What was long considered a vision of the future is now a reality in Munich: an autonomous city bus for public transport. As part of the MINGA research project, MAN Truck & Bus and Stadtwerke München (SWM), in collaboration with Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) and under the leadership of the Mobility Department of the City of Munich, have reached a decisive milestone. Since early September, the automated MAN Lion’s City 12 E has been operating for the first time on Route 178 between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl. This marks the first time the 12-meter-long city bus – which was automated by MAN and its technology partner ADASTEC – has been visible to the public in city traffic.

The bus is currently still accompanied by specially trained test drivers from MAN and MVG. In the coming weeks, extensive route data will be collected to lay the groundwork for increasingly autonomous operation. Throughout the entire project, safety drivers will be on board at all times, ready to take immediate control of the vehicle if necessary.

Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister of Transport: “Autonomous mobility will be part of our transportation system of the future. It is crucial that we test it under real-world conditions and gain experience for its practical application. With the start of the next test phase, an autonomous solo bus will be operating on public roads in Munich for the first time. The MINGA project is thus reaching another milestone and demonstrating how autonomous vehicles can meaningfully complement public transportation in the future and make it more flexible. We are supporting this development with approximately 13 million euros.”

Georg Dunkel, Head of the Department of Mobility of the City of Munich: “With the autonomous 12-meter bus we’re now putting on the road, we’re taking an important step toward the regular deployment of autonomous vehicles in public transport. Following the recent launch of an autonomous on-demand shuttle in Munich, this marks another important milestone in the further development of urban mobility. I’d like to thank all our partners, especially MAN and MVG, for their close collaboration and dedication. The MINGA project demonstrates how innovation emerges right here on the ground and is shaping the future of mobility in Munich.”

“With the first test runs on the route, we’ve left the controlled environment of our factory grounds and are bringing our system into real city traffic. This is an enormously important step toward automated urban mobility,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

Sinaida Cordes, Authorized Signatory at SWM and MVG: “The insights from the MINGA project are of great importance to MVG as a public transport operator. They help us better understand the possible applications of autonomous buses in public transport and assess their potential for passengers and operations. In the long term, we see autonomous vehicles as an opportunity to make public transport even more attractive, flexible, and efficient, thereby making an important contribution to the mobility of the future.”

“Route 178 offers ideal conditions for test operations. It combines a variety of traffic situations, such as major thoroughfares, 30-km/h zones, parking areas, and underpasses. This means it is a good representation of Munich’s diverse bus network. For future regular service, it is crucial to conduct the tests as close to real-world conditions as possible,” adds Veit Bodenschatz, Head of the Bus Division at SWM and MVG.

Route is being digitized for autonomous driving

As part of the current test runs, the route information required for autonomous operation is being collected. “This is necessary because autonomous driving requires a high-resolution and extremely precise map of the route,” explains Marc Raudszus, Technical Coordinator and test driver at MAN.

To this end, the vehicle uses state-of-the-art sensor technology to map its surroundings: The bus is equipped with five LiDAR sensors, six radars, eight cameras, and a satellite-based positioning system. From this data, technology partner ADASTEC implements relevant road and traffic information such as traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, lane layouts, and other route-relevant features, within a high-resolution digital map (HD map) that supports precise localization and automated driving along the defined route. This forms the basis for the city bus to drive the route independently and safely in just a few weeks. “Among other things, the vehicle will steer, accelerate, brake, and signal on its own. However, a safety driver will remain on board at all times to monitor the systems,” explains Dr. Michael Roth, Head of Bus Strategy and Bus Product Strategy at MAN.

“Our MAN Lion’s City E is currently collecting data on an ongoing basis and is being further optimized for the planned automated operation,” says Marc Raudszus, adding: “In addition to the technology, the size of the vehicle also poses a particular challenge. This makes it all the more important for us to ensure cautious, restrained driving behavior. After all, in addition to technical maturity, the MINGA project is also about building trust in the new technology.”

Test operation under real-world conditions

MVG and MAN are expected to launch another phase starting in November with test users along Route 178. The bus will be deployed as an additional vehicle on the existing route, simulating future use in regular scheduled service under conditions as close to real-world as possible. During this project phase, selected test users will be able to ride as part of a closed user group. The bus has approximately 30 seats as well as space for a wheelchair or pram. Before being deployed on public roads, the automated electric bus successfully completed an extensive testing program at the MAN facility. This included electromagnetic compatibility testing as well as the validation of all functions of the automated driving system developed by MAN’s partner ADASTEC in a wide range of defined test scenarios. “The top priority was that the safety driver on board must be able to intervene at any time in the event of a potential system failure,” Raudszus emphasizes.

On this basis, the necessary technical inspections by TÜV and other approval procedures were completed. The federal authority for road traffic, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), was responsible for issuing the operating permit in accordance with the AFGBV (Autonome-Fahrzeuge-Genehmigungs-und-Betriebs-Verordnung). “This means that all regulatory requirements for the test operations now underway in Munich’s street traffic have been met,” says Roth.

Registration for rides now open

Interested individuals can already register to participate at mvg.de/minga-anmeldung. MVG will provide separate information regarding the specific start date for the ride-sharing service in due course.

MINGA: A key project for the mobility of the future

MAN’s goal is to use autonomous buses to make local public transportation more efficient, flexible, and sustainable in the future. Autonomous systems thus offer great potential for ensuring and improving mobility services – especially in light of growing cities and an increasing driver shortage. MAN has been working on driverless buses for years. The experience gained from the MINGA project is now being directly incorporated into the further development of future vehicle generations. In the MINGA research project, MAN is working with ADASTEC as its technology partner, relying on a specialized provider of automated driving systems. The company develops SAE Level-4 (fully automated) automated driving software platform for buses and commercial vehicles.

The MINGA research project (Munich’s Automated Local Transport with Ridepooling, Solobus, and Bus Platoons) has been underway since 2023 with a total of 16 partners from public authorities, research institutions, and industry. The Mobility Department of the City of Munich serves as the consortium leader and is responsible for the overall project. The goal is to integrate automated and connected mobility solutions into the existing transportation system and to address key questions regarding technology, regulation, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and operations. The project is being funded with approximately 13 million euros through mid-2027 by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) under the funding guideline “Autonomous and Connected Driving in Public Transportation.” Further information on the project can be found at mvg.de/minga and muenchenunterwegs.de/minga.

• Trade show highlight: together with Penske, MAN puts the chassis business centre stage – with the focus on the MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8)
• Strong in school bus transport: here, assistance systems, reliability and low operating costs are the deciding factors
• Next step, electromobility: the first buses based on the MAN Lion's Chassis E are set to enter customer service in the region

The Australasia Bus & Coach Expo, held on 15 and 16 July 2026 at Sydney Showground, is the region's leading industry trade fair. MAN Truck & Bus took part for the second time – together with long-standing importer Penske Australia & New Zealand. The focus was on the chassis business in general, and in particular on the new generation of the MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8).

70 buses for a family business

Alongside the chassis range, the 70th MAN bus on display for the Fallon Bus Group was a highlight of the appearance. The company, based in the Australian state of Victoria, dates back to 1962 and is now run by the third generation of the family. Fallon has predominantly relied on MAN since 2012. The anniversary bus is based on the 330 hp MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8) and features a body built by Coach Concepts.

“The combination of modern safety technology, high reliability and low operating costs makes MAN a compelling choice for us,” says Luke Fallon, Director of the Fallon Bus Group. “Equally important is the exceptional support from MAN and Penske, which keeps our fleet running every day.”

Safety is the deciding factor in school bus transport

MAN is particularly successful in the region's school bus segment – an area where operators are placing increasing emphasis on assistance systems. Emergency brake assist, adaptive cruise control, electronic stability programme, and lane departure and lane return assist are all part of the standard equipment on the innovative Lion's Chassis models, making MAN, together with low total cost of ownership, the preferred solution for many operators.

“With a reliable customer service infrastructure of more than 60 authorised dealers and workshops across Australia, Penske is excellently positioned to support the growing demand from school, charter and regional operators throughout the entire operating cycle,” says Tom Kuiphuis, Head of Bus for the Australasia Cluster at MAN Truck & Bus.

Next step: electric buses for Australasia

At its previous appearance at the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo, MAN unveiled the Lion's Chassis E – the first fully electric MAN chassis for markets outside Europe. Going forward, the first eBuses built on this chassis are set to enter customer service in the region, supporting operators on their journey towards lower-emission public transport.

“Australia and New Zealand are very important markets for our international bus business,” says Tom Kuiphuis, summarising the trade fair appearance. “Together with Penske, we want to continue strengthening our position and grow our business in a region that promises enormous growth in the years ahead.” Penske Australia recently secured an order from local transport operator Kinetic for 22 MAN Lion's Chassis LE (RC2), with delivery scheduled for early 2027.

A model that works worldwide

Success in Australasia follows the same pattern seen in other markets outside Europe: MAN supplies the chassis, while experienced local body manufacturers and importers take responsibility for bodywork, sales and service. In this way, 311 coaches were recently produced in Thailand, and in Indonesia, MAN showcased its chassis solutions for the first time at Busworld Southeast Asia in May 2026. MAN has also appointed three body manufacturers – TopBest, Modasa and Geyushi – as “MAN Lead Bodybuilders”.

“Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Indonesia are excellent examples of how our international chassis strategy works: we provide the technical foundation, and our local partners contribute bodybuilding expertise and customer proximity,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “This is how we are growing in markets that demand the very highest standards of safety and reliability.”

MAN Truck & Bus has, together with its long-standing partner TopBest Co., Ltd., delivered a total of 311 coaches to the Thai state-owned transport company Transport Co., Ltd. (BorKorSor). The vehicles, based on the MAN Lion's Chassis CO (RR3), are the first coaches with Euro 5 technology in Thailand. "This marks an important milestone for clean and comfortable mobility in the country," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "At the same time, the project underlines our international growth strategy in the bus business."

New coaches impress with comfort, safety and efficiency

The coaches are based on the two-axle Lion's Chassis CO (RR3) and were built by TopBest in configurations with 24, 32 and 36 seats. Going forward, they will operate on key long-distance routes between Bangkok and the northern, southern and north-eastern regions, offering passengers, drivers and the operator a significant boost in comfort, safety and efficiency. The modern vehicles also impress with lower emissions thanks to their Euro 5 technology. With this fleet expansion, Transport Co., Ltd. is strengthening Thailand's transport network and significantly driving forward the modernisation of long-distance public transport.

As part of the delivery, the operator has also launched a new VIP bus service under the motto "Travel with Heart", featuring luxurious 24-seat coaches. This service covers key routes from Thailand's capital to Koh Samui, Nakhon Phanom, Chiang Mai and Mae Sot.

"Thailand is a key market for our bus business, one that we want to continue developing consistently. Together with our local importer, we are unlocking additional potential, including beyond the country's borders," says Hadi Zamani, Head of International Sales Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

Key to success: close cooperation with local body manufacturers

The order in Thailand illustrates just how important regional partnerships are for MAN's international bus business. Unlike in Europe, where MAN manufactures complete buses, the focus in global markets is on high-performance bus chassis – ranging from low-floor and low-entry to high-floor chassis. Local, MAN-certified body manufacturers then build on this base to create bespoke, market-ready complete solutions locally. "This allows us to respond flexibly to the different regional requirements and customer needs, while at the same time expanding our presence in emerging markets worldwide," says Oktay.

A key component of this strategy is a strong network of reliable partners in the respective regions. With TopBest for the Asia region, Modasa for Central and South America, and Geyushi for North Africa and the Middle East, MAN has officially appointed three selected body manufacturers as "MAN Lead Bodybuilders". The aim of these deepened partnerships is to open up additional sales channels, intensify technical exchange, and further improve the quality and availability of the finished buses – benefits that flow through significantly to end customers, as well as to drivers and passengers.

"These partnerships create a robust international network and new sales channels – both in our partners' home markets and for export," says Oktay, adding: "Thailand is an excellent example of how this close cooperation creates concrete, high-quality mobility solutions for our customers on the ground."

Anticipation for the new season and more titles is running high as FC Bayern Munich kicks off the 2026–2027 season at the end of August. The team, led by head coach Vincent Kompany, is welcoming a special new addition: MAN Truck & Bus has delivered a new MAN Lion’s Coach L to the German record champions. Featuring the eye-catching FC Bayern red and a large club logo, the bus will become an unmistakable companion for the team on their travels throughout Germany and Europe. This makes the bus not only a real head-turner but, above all, an important retreat for the team before and after games.

“We are very pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with FC Bayern Munich and to continue accompanying the team safely and comfortably to their matches with a MAN Lion’s Coach,” says Michael Kobriger, Executive Board Member for Production and Logistics at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “The bus combines state-of-the-art technology, the highest level of comfort, and an unmistakable design – making it a worthy companion for the German record champions.”

The handover took place at the FCB club grounds on Säbener Straße and marks another milestone in the long-standing collaboration between MAN and FC Bayern Munich.

Rouven Kasper, FC Bayern’s Board Member for Marketing & Sales: “The long-standing partnership between FC Bayern and MAN demonstrates how top-level football and cutting-edge technology go hand in hand. The new MAN team bus, specially tailored to our team’s needs, reflects our commitment to the highest level of professionalism in every detail. The innovative features we’ve developed together show how we’re shaping progress side by side. Wherever FC Bayern stops on its travels, the distinctive design makes it clear at first glance who is visiting.”

Powerful drive train and state-of-the-art driver’s cabin

The new MAN Lion’s Coach L combines impressive travel comfort with innovative safety and vehicle technology. The 13.9-meter-long three-axle coach is powered by the efficient yet powerful D2676 LOH 6-cylinder diesel engine, which delivers 382 kW (520 PS) and meets the Euro 6e emissions standard. The driver’s digital cockpit meets the highest ergonomic standards, features a clear layout, and is intuitive to operate. This ensures outstanding comfort and excellent visibility on long trips to away games throughout Europe.

A retreat and place of comfort for the entire team

Players, coaches, and support staff also travel in utmost comfort. The interior was custom-designed by the experts at MAN Bus Modification exclusively to meet the team’s needs. In the rear, for example, a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerators, a sink, a fully automatic coffee machine, and ample space for preparing and storing meals ensures the team’s physical well-being. Four height-adjustable face-to-face tables provide space for discussions between coaches and players before and after games. The interior is complemented by spacious storage cabinets as well as table and leg rests.

Premium Wi-Fi, technical support for streaming services, three HD monitors, a high-performance sound system, LED ambient lighting, and a starlit ceiling inside the vehicle ensure relaxation and entertainment on longer trips.

Innovative driver assistance systems for maximum safety

In addition to comfort, safety was a key priority. As a result, the team bus is equipped with numerous innovative driver assistance and safety systems. These include, among others, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the lane departure warning system with haptic alerts, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, radar-based turn assist, a collision warning system with pedestrian detection, MAN SafeStop Assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, the MAN AttentionGuard, the enhanced Emergency Brake Assist (EBA Plus), and 360-degree bird view via six cameras.

Outlook: Fully electric team bus coming in the 26/27 season

The collaboration between the two Munich-based partners dates back to 2008 and continues to evolve. A key focus of this partnership is the goal of reducing mobility-related greenhouse gas emissions. Over the course of the upcoming season, FC Bayern’s existing fleet will therefore be expanded to include a fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E. Following the successful world premiere of the electric coach, extensive testing and preparations for production are currently in full swing. MAN and FC Bayern Munich are also already working closely together on the necessary charging infrastructure: Together, the partners are establishing a public charging station for e-trucks and e-buses at the Allianz Arena. In doing so, they are laying the groundwork for reducing mobility-related greenhouse gas emissions (compared to trucks and buses with conventional powertrains) in professional sports and beyond, and sending a strong signal in support of future-oriented innovations.

• Premium partnership extended until 2028
• MAN Truck & Bus has been by Borussia Mönchengladbach’s side since 2012
• MAN Lion’s Coach as the team coach, plus 25 MAN TGE Combi vehicles for the youth teams

MAN Truck & Bus and Borussia Mönchengladbach remain on a joint course for success: at an event held at the ista Borussia-Park, the club and its premium partner signed a contract extending their cooperation until 2028. MAN Truck & Bus has been associated with the "Foals" since 2012 – a partnership that is now entering its next chapter.

The commitment extends well beyond the MAN Lion's Coach serving as the team coach. Borussia Mönchengladbach's vehicle fleet also includes 25 MAN TGE Combi vehicles. These are used primarily by the youth teams, but are also deployed for trips to training camps or away matches.

"Borussia Mönchengladbach and MAN share a reliable partnership that has grown over many years. With our team coach and TGE fleet, we ensure that both the professionals and the youth players reach their destination safely, comfortably and reliably at all times. We are delighted to be continuing this successful journey together until 2028," said Dennis Affeld, Chairman of the Management Board of MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland, on the occasion of the contract extension.

Borussia Mönchengladbach is also placing its trust in continuity: "Long-term partnerships are a particular sign of mutual trust in professional sport. That is why we are delighted to continue our successful journey with MAN, and to work together to lay the foundation for our professionals and youth players to remain reliably and safely mobile at all times," said Marcel Cox, Director of Sponsoring & International Partnerships, on the contract extension.

Safe and comfortable travel with the MAN Lion's Coach

In the coming years too, a MAN Lion's Coach will reliably transport the Borussia Mönchengladbach team to home and away matches. The focus here is on the highest level of comfort: the team coach not only impresses with sophisticated technology, its distinctive design and comprehensive safety and assistance systems, but its extensive interior fittings also provide the professionals with the right environment in which to focus before kick-off and recover after the match.

Unlike in Europe, where MAN produces and sells complete buses, the company focuses primarily on the sale of chassis in the global market. Certified local bodybuilders convert the chassis into market-specific vehicle solutions. “This allows us to respond flexibly to varying regional requirements and customer needs while simultaneously expanding our presence in emerging markets worldwide,” says Katzer.

Indonesia is one of Asia’s most significant bus markets

Indonesia is one of the most important growth markets for bus and passenger transport in Southeast Asia. The expansion of transportation infrastructure, rising mobility demands, and growth in tourism are driving high demand for modern, high-quality, and durable bus solutions. At the same time, issues such as safety, efficiency, and comfort are becoming increasingly important. “Our debut at Busworld Southeast Asia is an important step for us in sustainably strengthening our bus business in the region. With our proven range of chassis and strong local partners, we are ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality bus solutions in Indonesia,” adds Katzer.

MAN’s goal is to further strengthen its position in the local bus segment together with Inframach. While Inframach has been an established partner in MAN’s truck business for many years, the trade show appearance marks an important step toward the sustainable development of the bus business in the region.

MAN Lion’s Chassis: a versatile platform for the global market

The highlight of the trade show presentation was the three-axle Lion’s Chassis CO (RR4). This modern chassis stands out in particular for its adaptability: It serves as the basis for a wide variety of body types and is suitable for a diverse range of applications – from long-distance travel and tourism to premium passenger services. “The Lion’s Chassis CO is designed to support a wide range of bus body types. It offers a flexible foundation for configurations tailored to local operating conditions and specific customer requirements – with a particular focus on advanced safety features for passengers and drivers,” explained Roland Kopp, Program Lead Bus Chassis at MAN Truck & Bus.

The double-decker bus based on the MAN RR4 chassis also attracted attention at the trade show. The body was built by New Armada, a leading Indonesian manufacturer. MAN thus presented both the chassis and the complete, market-ready vehicle solution. After all, double-decker buses are no longer a rarity on long-distance routes within Indonesia. “The collaboration with Inframach and New Armada demonstrates how our engineering expertise and local bodywork expertise can work together. This is exactly the kind of partnership that will help us grow internationally,” says Kopp.

Busworld Southeast Asia is regarded as a major platform for the bus and coach industry in Southeast Asia. The trade show brings together vehicle manufacturers, bodybuilders, suppliers, transportation companies, and industry representatives to discuss – and showcase – current developments and future trends such as electrification, safety, and new mobility solutions.

“This order is further impressive proof of the MAN Lion’s City E’s strong market position in Europe. Vilnius is placing its trust in our proven technology, thereby sending a strong signal for the future of zero-emission public transport – far beyond Lithuania’s borders,” says Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

A significant step toward the mobility transition in Vilnius

The new electric buses will replace part of VVT’s existing diesel bus fleet and noticeably improve the quality of public transportation in the Lithuanian capital. Passengers will benefit from quieter, smoother, and more comfortable rides. Drivers can look forward to an innovative and ergonomic work environment. Depending on the model, the buses offer a range of up to 380 kilometers. On board, there are also modern air conditioning systems, passenger information systems, Wi-Fi, and charging options for mobile devices.

“We are consistently phasing out polluting vehicles and transitioning to cleaner, quieter, and more efficient solutions. The expansion of electric buses allows us not only to improve the quality of public transport but also to move steadily toward a climate-neutral city,” says Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius.

Ignas Degutis, CEO of VVT, highlights the historic nature of the project: “This is a project of exceptional scale and complexity, not only in Vilnius but across Lithuania. Today marks an important stage – the acquisition of electric buses. At the same time, we are implementing parallel developments, including charging infrastructure, power capacity, depot upgrades, and new operational models. This is a long-term transformation that will reshape not only the vehicle fleet but also the overall approach to public transport operations.”

Delivery from late 2026 through the end of 2027

In Lithuania, the buses will be delivered by ADAMPOLIS, MAN’s exclusive and long-standing local partner. ADAMPOLIS will also handle technical maintenance for a period of five years. The first vehicles are scheduled to arrive in Vilnius later this year. Delivery of the remainder of the fleet is planned through late 2027. “Our goal is to ensure that every passenger feels welcome in public transport – that journeys are not only fast but also comfortable, safe, and pleasant. Electric buses reduce pollution and noise while providing a smoother travel experience for both residents and visitors. Fleet renewal is an essential step in making public transport the most attractive mobility option in the city,” says Loreta Levulytė-Staškevičienė, Head of JUDU, the organization responsible for public transport services in Vilnius.

MAN Lion’s City E: An European Success Story

The order from Vilnius fits seamlessly into the impressive growth trajectory of the MAN Lion’s City E. Since its market launch in 2019, more than 3,300 vehicles have already been produced and delivered. In daily operation, these have collectively covered around 250 million kilometers, saving approximately 150,000 tons of CO₂ compared to conventional diesel buses. In the 2025 fiscal year alone, sales of MAN e-buses grew by 118 percent compared to the previous year – a new record with more than 1,300 vehicles sold. Today, roughly one in every two MAN city buses sold in Europe is electrically powered. To meet the steadily growing demand, MAN recently began series production of the Lion’s City E at its Ankara plant in Turkey – as the third global e-bus production site alongside Starachowice in Poland and Olifantsfontein in South Africa.

“The city bus is the segment within the entire European automotive industry that is the most decarbonized. At the same time, the daily lives of millions of Europeans would be almost unimaginable without buses. That is why it is particularly important that legislators take the following into account when drafting new regulations: Those who want social, sustainable mobility in cities and regions from Portugal to Poland, from Sweden to Sicily, must not undermine the competitiveness of European bus manufacturers. We need more political support for competitiveness and innovation,” stated Barbaros Oktay upon his appointment.

Industrial Accelerator Act Shapes Industrial Value Creation

At the heart of the Industrial Accelerator Act recently presented by the European Commission are so-called “Buy European regulations.” According to the plans, for example, only manufacturers with a high proportion of European products in their value chain will be allowed to sell buses in Europe through public tenders. Significant changes are expected in the legislative process now getting underway. Barbaros Oktay says: “In principle, European bus manufacturers welcome the ‘Buy European’ requirements. However, the proposed plans are likely to lead to significant bureaucracy. And we want to invest our resources more wisely in the further development of products that benefit our customers and make transportation even more sustainable and better.”

Electrification as a Growth Driver for the Bus Industry

Barbaros Oktay has been actively driving this transformation as Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus since 2023. During this period, the company significantly strengthened its market position in the bus business and achieved sales of over 7,000 buses in the 2025 fiscal year – returning to pre-pandemic levels. The electric mobility sector was particularly successful: Sales of electric city buses rose by more than 118 percent to over 1,300 units, setting a record. “The bus sector is one of the segments of the European commercial vehicle industry that is developing particularly dynamically toward zero-emission powertrains. The city bus is one of the pioneers of electrification within the automotive industry,” said Oktay.

Electric mobility is also gaining increasing importance in intercity travel: With the MAN Lion’s Coach E, announced for late 2026, a fully electric coach from a European manufacturer will be ready for use in long-distance travel and tourism applications for the first time. Its trade show debut in Brussels last fall marked an important milestone on the path to electrified bus applications across all areas of use.

Call for focused expansion of the charging infrastructure

Despite positive market trends, infrastructure remains a key challenge. While electrification is already well advanced in the city bus segment, there is still a significant need to catch up, particularly with regard to the charging infrastructure for coaches. The bus industry is therefore calling for targeted political support to establish a Europe-wide, high-performance charging infrastructure for coaches, particularly at transportation hubs, long-distance bus terminals, tourist hotspots, and along major long-distance routes. “Without a comprehensive and high-performance charging infrastructure for coaches, the full potential of electric mobility in long-distance transport cannot be realized,” emphasizes Oktay. “The policy decisions made in the coming years will be decisive in determining how quickly and successfully the transformation takes place.”

About Barbaros Oktay

Barbaros Oktay began his career at MAN Truck & Bus in 2004 at MAN Türkiye A.Ş. at the production site in Ankara.

He has held various bus management positions within the group. Among other roles, he served as Senior Vice President, Head of Bus Solutions at TRATON, and Head of Bus Engineering, Product & Project Management at MAN Truck & Bus SE.

Since 2023, he has led the MAN bus business as Head of Bus.

Over the past few months, MAN has equipped a Lion’s City 12 E with an Automated Driving System (ADS) in close collaboration with its new partner ADASTEC and integrated it into the vehicle’s electronic architecture. As a result, the vehicle, which is equipped with five LiDAR sensors, six RADARs, eight cameras, and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), is technically capable of automated driving. Initial test drives are currently taking place on the MAN premises, during which specific driving maneuvers – such as approaching bus stops – are being tested. The goal of this phase is to fine-tune the system, collect important operational data, and further optimize the automated driving functions.

Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder: “Autonomous driving is a key to the mobility of the future. Above all, it stands for greater efficiency and greater inclusion for citizens in road traffic. Projects such as MAN’s fully electric, automated city bus in Munich are therefore groundbreaking for public transportation in Germany. We expressly support such initiatives. Pioneering work is being done here that will have an impact far beyond the region and the city of Munich.”

Autonomous pilot operation planned for Munich’s public transport

Following testing on MAN’s premises, the automated electric bus is set to operate on Munich’s public roads – initially without passengers. These runs will serve as a final test phase under real-world conditions. In autumn, MVG plans to launch the official pilot operation with a closed user group. “The vehicle will, among other things, steer, accelerate, brake, and signal independently. A safety driver will be on board to monitor the systems,” explains Dr. Michael Roth, Head of Bus Strategy and Product Strategy Bus at MAN. It is also planned to systematically evaluate feedback from test users. When and under what conditions passengers will be able to ride along will be announced in due course.

By deploying automated buses, MAN aims to make public transportation more efficient, flexible, and sustainable in the future. Especially in light of growing cities and a growing shortage of drivers in the commercial vehicle industry, automated systems offer great potential for ensuring and improving mobility services. “Furthermore, autonomous driving can help reduce traffic accidents on the roads and thus increase safety,” said Roth. The findings from the MINGA project are directly incorporated into the further development of future vehicle generations. MAN has been working on driverless buses for years and plans to launch a fully automated vehicle at SAE Level 4 in the next decade – for urban mobility that is emission-free, connected, and automated.

With ADASTEC, MAN is partnering with a specialized provider of automated driving systems for the MINGA research project. The company develops SAE Level 4 (fully automated) automated driving software platform for buses and commercial vehicles.

MINGA: A key project for the mobility of the future

The MINGA research project (Munich’s Automated Local Transport with Ridepooling, Solobus, and Bus Platoons) has been underway since 2023 with a total of 16 partners from public authorities, research institutions, and industry. The Mobility Department of the City of Munich serves as the consortium leader and is responsible for the overall project. The goal is to integrate automated and connected mobility solutions into the existing transportation system and to address key questions regarding technology, regulation, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and operations. The project is being funded with approximately 13 million euros through mid-2027 by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) under the funding guideline “Autonomous and Connected Driving in Public Transportation.”

“MINGA is an enormously important project for us; after all, it is a crucial step toward a ‘proof of concept’ in regular service,” says Oktay, adding: “Once the concept phase is complete, field trials with customers are set to begin. There is enormous interest among public transport companies in autonomous buses.”

MAN Truck & Bus has opened a new sales office for trucks and buses in Querétaro, Mexico. With this move, the company underscores Mexico’s strategic importance as a major growth market.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible support to our customers in the transport and logistics industry by building a local team, with Pedro Teixeira as MAN Brand Manager. We are also focusing on professionalizing and improving service standards in order to further intensify cooperation,” says Friedrich Baumann, Board Member for Sales and Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “We are strengthening our market presence and look forward to further advancing mobility in Mexico with innovative vehicles and well-thought-out solutions.”

Thanks to ongoing growth in the logistics sector and in long-distance passenger transport, Mexico has developed into a key market for MAN commercial vehicles in recent years. In the tractor unit segment, the cab-over segment—where, as with European trucks, the cab is mounted above the engine—is increasingly gaining importance over the conventional long-nose vehicles traditionally used in the Mexican market, with demand in particular shifting toward more technologically sophisticated vehicle concepts. MAN meets these requirements in Mexico with its top model, the TGX, which has already been very successful in Europe and many other global markets.

Designed for classic long-haul logistics with a gross vehicle weight of up to 40 tonnes, the truck impresses with high efficiency, offering engines with outputs from 440 to 640 hp that meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. This is complemented by modern driver assistance systems such as the topography-based adaptive cruise control MAN EfficientCruise and the emergency braking assistant MAN EBA. The driver’s workplace is ergonomically optimized with a fully digital instrument display, a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment, and intuitive operation of all functions. The comfortable rest and sleeping area offers excellent recovery during driving breaks.

Buses are among the most popular means of public transport in Mexico

MAN also sees considerable potential in the bus market. Five years after the pandemic, the long-distance coach market is showing a clear recovery. Mexico has a very well-developed bus network, and buses are among the population’s most popular forms of public transport. Due to the limited rail infrastructure, modern coaches in particular play a central role in mobility. The coach segment is served entirely by European manufacturers. MAN intends to actively support this market development and the expansion of the transport sector.

In the bus business, the company focuses on selling chassis. Unlike in Europe, where MAN manufactures and sells complete buses, in global markets—and therefore also in Mexico—the focus is on chassis that are completed locally by certified bodybuilders. “In Mexico, we cooperate with Irizar and Marcopolo S.A. to build modern buses on our innovative chassis,” says Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. The focus is on the two-axle Lion’s Chassis CO (RR2) and the three-axle Lion’s Chassis CO (RR4), powered by fuel-efficient diesel engines. In addition to their performance and efficiency, they are known for advanced driver assistance systems and exceptional comfort for operators and passengers alike.

Presence at Expo Foro 2026

How well the partnership works—and that MAN has the right solutions for the Mexican market—was demonstrated by the company at Expo Foro Movilidad 2026. MAN’s partner in Mexico, Volkswagen Truck & Bus Mexico, presented two coaches based on the Lion’s Chassis CO (RR2) with an efficient and environmentally friendly Euro 6e engine. The bodies were supplied by Irizar and Marcopolo S.A. Both models combine sustainable driving with strong performance, high cost-efficiency, and maximum safety. “Our presence at Expo Foro underscores MAN’s commitment to offering reliable, efficient, and safe mobility solutions tailored to the needs of passengers and operators throughout Mexico,” says Katzer. The trade show is regarded as one of the most important industry platforms in Latin America and recorded record visitor numbers in 2026.

Simplifying Business through holistic customer solutions

In addition to innovative vehicles, MAN offers its customers a holistic approach that combines sales, after-sales service, and technical support. “True to our brand promise, Simplifying Business, we want to make our customers’ business easier with sustainable offerings and 360-degree solutions,” says Baumann. To ensure this, MAN’s team in Mexico consists of sales, service, and product experts and works closely with a nationwide dealer network. Since April 2025, MAN FinancialServices’ comprehensive financing, leasing, and insurance solutions have also been fully available for the Mexican market. 

“With the launch of e-bus production in Ankara, we are setting a significant milestone on our path to electromobility,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “We are expanding our production capacities, strengthening our global bus network, and can meet rising customer demands even faster and more flexibly. Ankara will play a key role in our e-mobility strategy going forward.”

MAN transitions its production network to the electric era

The conversion of the Ankara plant is part of MAN’s comprehensive transformation toward becoming a provider of sustainable transport solutions. With the launch of the MAN Lion’s City E in 2020, the Starachowice site in Poland became the first MAN plant in the production network to be fully equipped for the large-scale production of electric vehicles. The Lion’s Explorer E has been built in Olifantsfontein for two years. Series production of the fully electric, heavy-duty MAN eTGS and eTGX trucks began at the Munich plant in 2025. The production team in Krakow is also currently preparing intensively for the series production of the first electric trucks. Series production of the MAN eTGL light-duty truck will begin here in the coming months. MAN will unveil another electric model to round out its all-electric product portfolio in May at the Transpotec trade show in Milan. This truck will also be produced in Krakow in the future. Finally, with the establishment of MAN’s own battery production, the Nuremberg plant has evolved from a pure engine manufacturing site into a development and production site for both state-of-the-art diesel engines and alternative drive concepts.

Ankara as a key component of the e-strategy

In recent years, the infrastructure in Ankara has been modernized, production processes optimized, and the workforce specifically trained to meet the demands of electric mobility. “Through these steps and the investments we’ve made, we are laying the groundwork to offer high-volume, high-quality, zero-emission mobility solutions in the long term,” says Oktay. In the future, in addition to the Lion’s City E, electric intercity buses and the new Lion’s Coach E for tourist travel in Turkey will also be manufactured there. “Our goal is for Ankara, just like Starachowice, to play a key role in the e-mobility transformation of MAN’s bus business,” Oktay continues.

“Ankara is developing into one of MAN’s central e-mobility hubs. Thanks to our flexible production structure, we can manufacture both various electric bus models and conventionally powered buses on the same production line. This enables us to respond efficiently to different market requirements,” emphasizes Mehmet Şermet, Head of Production Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

The MAN Lion’s City E: a success story

Since its market launch in 2019, the MAN Lion’s City E has become a success story in Europe and is now in service in numerous European cities. A total of around 3,300 vehicles have already been produced and delivered to customers. In daily operation, these vehicles have collectively covered approximately 250 million kilometers, saving around 150,000 tons of CO₂ compared to conventional diesel buses thanks to their locally emission-free operation. The increase in sales figures impressively underscores this dynamic development. In the 2025 fiscal year, electric mobility gained significantly in importance at MAN. Sales of fully electric trucks and buses rose by 168 percent to a total of 1,970 units. The MAN Lion’s City E alone achieved 118 percent growth compared to the previous year, with more than 1,300 e-buses sold in total. This marks a new record for MAN. In Europe, roughly one in every two city buses sold by MAN is now electrically powered.

In addition to the reliability, range, and sustainability of the Lion’s City E, this success is also based on the broad portfolio of zero-emission buses, which is being continuously expanded. It includes compact 10-meter vehicles, classic 12-meter solo buses, 18-meter articulated buses for high passenger volumes, and electric low-entry variants for intercity use. The Lion’s Chassis E also enables the company to serve markets outside Europe. The fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E also marks the beginning of a new era of zero-emission travel – the first vehicles are scheduled to be delivered to customers by the end of the year. With this diverse range of models, MAN covers all relevant application scenarios and makes a decisive contribution to sustainable mobility in cities, regions, and, in the future, long-distance transport – all over the world.

A new era has begun at Munich Airport: AeroGround, the airport's wholly owned subsidiary for ground handling, is converting its entire apron bus fleet to fully electric MAN Lion's City E vehicles. Over the coming years, up to 74 emission-free eBuses are set to enter service. To make this electrifying development tangible, MAN Truck & Bus and Munich Airport have jointly launched the six-part social media series "Boarding by eBus". The intro to the series is now available on the social media channels of MAN and Munich Airport.  

The "Patrikant" conquers the airfield 

At the centre of the campaign is Patrik, a highly motivated intern – affectionately called "Patrikant" – who discovers the world of electric apron buses under the guidance of experienced AeroGround bus driver Franz. The dynamic between this odd couple provides entertainment: on one side, the lively Patrik; on the other, the ever-composed Franz. Together, they take viewers behind the scenes at Munich Airport and make electromobility tangible.  

Electromobility as the key to Net Zero 2035 

Behind the humorous format lies a clear message: Munich Airport is pursuing the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035 at the latest. The conversion to MAN Lion's City E buses is a central component of this strategy. Already, 37 electric apron buses are operating on the airfield, and in future up to 74 vehicles will transport passengers, crew members and airport employees. Where diesel engines once rumbled, whisper-quiet electric buses now glide across the apron – a win for the climate, passenger comfort and the working quality of life for staff. 

A modern profession with a future 

At the same time, "Boarding by eBus" addresses an industry-wide issue: the driver shortage. The series demonstrates that steering a state-of-the-art, twelve-metre-long electric bus at an international airport is not only responsible work, butalso fascinating and future-proof. In doing so, MAN and Munich Airport aim to inspire new target groups to consider the profession of bus driver.  

Six episodes with exciting insights 

After Patrik gets his first taste of airport life in the first episode, the journey really takes off in the subsequent five episodes. Viewers can look forward to exciting insights: from charging the buses with the distinctive CCS connectors, to conversations with AeroGround experts, to Patrik's impatient desire to get behind the wheel of the MAN Lion's City E himself. Additionally, the clips illuminate the functionality, assistance systems and advantages of electric buses, as well as the special features of operating them at an airport. 

The "Boarding by eBus" series is now available on the social media channels of MAN Truck & Bus (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn) as well as on Munich Airport's channels.  

The individual episodes can be found here on the MAN channels:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/man-commercial-vehicles/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mantruckandbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mantruckandbus
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mantrucksandbuses

MAN Truck & Bus is making a clear statement in the premier class of heavy-duty transport with the launch of a new TGX 41.640 8x4/4  heavy-duty tractor unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of 250 tons. The 640 hp four-axle vehicle easily moves large turbines weighing hundreds of tons for wind turbines, high-voltage transformers or entire submarines. Among other things, the MAN TGX features a torque converter clutch, a special gearbox designed for extreme loads and powerful hydraulic and compressed air systems that enable precise steering and leveling of the 30 or more axles of heavy-duty trailers in any driving situation.  

The new heavy-duty range is a complete factory solution from MAN Individual: the four-axle base vehicle is produced at the Munich plant and then equipped with heavy-duty couplings, reinforced cooling and diesel and hydraulic tanks at the MAN Truck Modification Center in Wittlich.  

The high-performance truck comes with the same comprehensive after sales, warranty, and financing services as all series vehicles. This makes MAN one of the few providers of series-based complete solutions from 3.5 to 250 tons and covers every transport task from light to heavy with the TGE, TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX models – also fully electric on request from 12 to 42 tons. 

Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus, unveiled the new tractor unit in the presence of around 80 international heavy-duty transporters: "With our new 250-ton tractor unit, we are returning to the supreme discipline of heavy-duty transport. Thanks to MAN Individual's expertise, we are offering our customers a highly specialized vehicle that combines maximum performance, reliability and economy in one package. In doing so, we are once again sending out a strong signal to simplify our customers' business." 

MAN has delivered the first new 250-tonne heavy-duty TGX to the German rental specialist BFS. The dark blue tractor unit is available for heavy-duty transport companies that require vehicles at short notice for particularly heavy-duty operations. "We are very proud to have the very first of these special high-performance trucks in our fleet! It is the perfect flagship for our special vehicle rental fleet and another highlight in our 60-year partnership with MAN," says Jan Plieninger, Managing Director of BFS. He and his team are cooperation partners of MAN for commercial vehicle rental: from standard models and special vehicles to 250-ton trucks – with flexible short to long-term rental and supported by a comprehensive service network of over 90 MAN-owned workshops in Germany, Switzerland, Croatia and the Netherlands. 

New 250-tonne TGX: designed for extreme heavy-duty applications  

At the heart of the new heavy-duty model is the MAN D3876 in-line six-cylinder engine with 640 hp and 3,000 Nm torque, available in a wide range from 900 to 1,380 rpm¹ – ideal for high loads at low speeds. The torque converter clutch (WSK) integrated into the automated MAN TipMatic 12.30 OD gearbox enables low-wear, powerful starting with up to 1.59 times more torque and sensitive maneuvering. In addition, the Retarder 40 ensures high continuous braking performance and thermal stability. Special TipMatic programs provide support during operation: the Heavy Transport program for loads up to 250 tons, the Efficiency mode for loads up to 70 tons with particularly economical fuel consumption. 

Integrated heavy-duty equipment ex works 

MAN bundles the central heavy-duty components in a heavy-duty tower behind the cab. It contains four pressure tanks for 160 liters of additional air supply, a 960-liter diesel tank and the 290-liter tank for the two-stage heavy-duty hydraulics. This delivers pressures of up to 300 bar, works with a load-sensing system and provides 20 or 40 l/min of oil independently of the load – depending on the requirements of the axle steering systems. A heavy-duty transport cooler is also integrated into the heavy-duty tower, which keeps the engine temperature stable even at low speeds and high engine loads. 

The JOST JSK 38 C fifth wheel (3.5") is mounted on the frame, with an 800 mm shifting device as standard for optimum load distribution. For use in pushing or pulling operations, the vehicle has a front register coupling with three height levels. At the rear, the ROCKINGER 56 EA can be fitted as an option, whose automatic locking mechanism enables comfortable and reliable coupling even on uneven terrain. 

Design, comfort and individualization with MAN Individual 

The tractor unit is also available with the MAN Individual Lion S equipment package as an option. This includes exclusive design elements such as carbon applications, black aerodomes, red accents and high-quality interior details such as Alcantara seat covers, decorative stitching and red seat belts. A 24-inch television or an electrically adjustable TV recliner are available as options, as is ambient lighting elements that make everyday driving much more pleasant, especially on long journeys.  

Service and financing portfolio up to 250 tons 

MAN complements the new heavy-duty model with a comprehensive service and financing portfolio: this includes MAN Service Contracts, Extended Warranty and the Uptime Guarantee as well as digital services such as Perform, Compliant M, Timed and ServiceCare. The global service network with around 1,670 locations in over 140 countries ensures rapid support. Flexible financing and insurance models from MAN Financial Services – including Hire Purchase and PremiumCover – offer additional planning security, especially for heavy-duty customers. 

Thousands of test kilometers in ice and snow

The Lion's Coach E was tested in northern Sweden near the Arctic Circle and in Erzurum, Turkey, regions known for their harsh winters. A total of four electric coaches covered thousands of test kilometers under the most demanding conditions, including snowy and icy roads and temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. The engineers focused in particular on the behavior of the high-voltage battery system at extremely low temperatures, energy management including preconditioning and charging performance, the powertrain with electric motor, and the thermal management of the interior. Cold weather poses a particular challenge for electric coaches, as they must not only deliver a stable range but also ensure efficient and reliable heating of the passenger compartment. “But even in these freezing temperatures, the Lion's Coach E fully met our expectations. All components and systems functioned reliably despite the cold,” says Oktay.

eCoach proves its suitability for practical use

As with all MAN tests, not only were all individual components tested, but above all the interaction of the entire vehicle under the most difficult conditions. Hundreds of sensors continuously recorded data on temperatures, pressure values, energy flows, and system statuses during the trips. This enabled the developers to gain valuable insights and validate optimizations directly. The successful winter test is thus another milestone on the road to series production of the Lion's Coach E and underlines its suitability for year-round use in international travel – whether to the south or the far north.

A total of nine vehicles took part in the 2026 bus winter test. In addition to the four Lion's Coach E vehicles, conventional coaches as well as city and intercity models with electric or hybrid drives were also tested. MAN has been conducting winter testing in northern Sweden for more than 30 years. "The combination of double-digit sub-zero temperatures, snow, and ice provides the ideal conditions for putting vehicles through their paces in the overall system. The successful debut of the Lion's Coach E shows that electric mobility in passenger transport is reliable and economically feasible even under extreme conditions," explains Roland Scharl, Head of Engineering Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

MAN's first fully electric coach

With the Lion's Coach 14 E, MAN is launching its first battery-electric coach, underscoring its consistent transformation toward sustainable mobility. The coach features the proven drive technology from the successfully mass-produced eTruck as well as innovative NMC battery packs. These are manufactured in large series at the Nuremberg plant. The Lion's Coach E has a usable energy capacity of 320 to 480 kWh. Under optimal conditions, it can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometers – a distance that allows many typical travel routes to be covered without recharging. In addition to the technology, the smart design concept, which significantly reduces the drag coefficient (Cw value), is also impressive. At the same time, the eCoach offers space for up to 63 passengers without any restrictions on luggage volume compared to the diesel version. Following its successful world premiere last fall, extensive testing and trial cycles are currently underway, and preparations for production in Ankara are in full swing. The first vehicles are scheduled to roll out to selected customers before the end of this year.

MAN TGX D30 PowerLion impresses with outstanding efficiency

The award for the MAN TGX D30 PowerLion recognizes, above all, the high efficiency of its newly developed driveline. At its core is the all-new D30 engine, featuring a maximum efficiency of over 50 percent, making it one of the most advanced commercial vehicle engines in the world. Combined with the also new MAN TipMatic 14 transmission and aerodynamic enhancements, the driveline enables fuel savings of up to five percent. This not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also sustainably lowers total operating costs for transport companies through reduced fuel consumption and CO₂‑based toll systems.

MAN Lion’s Coach E – a milestone in sustainable travel

MAN also made a strong statement in the coach segment. The fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E marks the beginning of a new era of zero‑emission long‑distance travel. As a battery‑electric coach, it combines the proven quality of the Lion’s Coach product family with innovative electric technology. With a usable energy capacity ranging from 320 to 480 kWh, the vehicle can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometers under optimal conditions. Modern NMC battery packs produced at MAN’s Nuremberg plant, proven eTruck technology, and aerodynamically optimized design ensure high efficiency and reliability. Series production is currently being prepared at MAN’s Ankara plant, with the first vehicles scheduled for delivery to customers later this year.

MAN TGE Next Level convinces with new electronic architecture

In the light commercial vehicle segment, the MAN TGE impressed in collaboration with Spanish bodybuilder Burillo. The 2025 model year of the MAN TGE, known as Next Level, has undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade. The entire electronic architecture has been redesigned, meaning the vehicle now features new control units, sensors, and cameras. This enables new and enhanced assistance systems and increases safety for occupants and other road users. The new, more comfortable driver’s cockpit comes standard with a digital instrument cluster, the central MAN Media Van touchscreen display, and an ergonomic multifunction steering wheel. The redesigned dashboard also provides additional space within the cabin.

About the Spanish National Transport Awards

The National Transport Awards were established more than 35 years ago by the industry magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. A jury of 886 entrepreneurs from the transport sector and experts from the automotive industry selects the best vehicle introduced to the Spanish market each year across ten categories. Their decisions are based on a comprehensive assessment of safety, reliability, profitability, and efficiency.

Already today, every third bus in service in Vorarlberg is an e-bus. This means that the federal state currently has the largest e-bus fleet in Austria. A total of around 100 e-buses are currently in regular service, more than half of which are operated by ÖBB Postbus. The e-bus fleet is set to grow to 141 vehicles by spring. The clear goal is to increase this number to 200 e-buses by 2030. “We will therefore continue to contribute to environmentally friendly regional transport with our innovative MAN electric buses in the future,” says Rudi Kuchta, emphasizing: “MAN is the market leader in the field of e-buses in Austria with a market share of over 50 percent – not least thanks to the great trust that ÖBB Postbus places in us.” MAN delivered a total of 112 e-buses in Austria last year.

Safe, reliable, and comfortable mobility with MAN e-buses

MAN has delivered a total of 27 Lion’s City 12 E and 36 Lion’s City 18 E buses as part of the current order from ÖBB Postbus. While the 12-meter version offers a balanced combination of space, ride comfort, and agility, the 18-meter version is ideal for busy routes with high passenger volumes. Powerful electric motors and six or eight battery packs ensure quiet rides and long ranges of up to 350 kilometers. Comfort is guaranteed by efficient air conditioning systems with integrated heat pumps and comfortable seats. The 12-meter e-buses offer passengers 30 seats and standing room for 61, while the 18-meter e-buses offer 42 seats and standing room for 113. The barrier-free low-floor vehicles are also equipped with the latest swivel-sliding door technology, which enables high efficiency and fast passenger exchange. Numerous innovative assistance systems such as turn assist, break assist, emergency brake assist, and the driver's cab with full windshield ensure a safe journey for passengers, drivers, and other road users.

Largest charging hub for e-buses in Austria

The central basis for operation is a powerful charging infrastructure with a total of 144 charging points throughout Vorarlberg. The Postbus locations in Wolfurt, Bludenz, and Feldkirch alone have 75 of these charging points, which are installed and operated by illwerke vkw. The ÖBB Postbus garage in Wolfurt has been extensively prepared for the arrival of the new electric buses in recent months. This means that it is not only state-of-the-art in technical terms, but also the largest charging hub for e-buses in the whole of Austria.

“The new framework agreement with Deutsche Bahn is a historic contract for buses and an outstanding vote of confidence in our products and our team,” says Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus. “The fact that a significant proportion of the vehicles will be fully electric impressively underscores the contribution that Deutsche Bahn and MAN are making to the sustainable transformation of public transport.”

The partnership between the two companies has been in place since 2010 and is one of the most successful collaborations in the global bus market. Over the past 15 years, almost 5,000 MAN buses have been delivered to Deutsche Bahn, which are now reliably operating in urban and interurban transport. With the new framework agreement, which significantly expands the cooperation, Deutsche Bahn can now choose from a wide range of vehicles. The buses will be used by the regional transport subsidiary DB Regio AG throughout Germany.

Harmen van Zijderveld, Member of the DB Management Board for Regional Transport: "With the new buses, our passengers will continue to reach their destinations reliably, comfortably, and in an environmentally friendly manner. The long-term contracts guarantee that we will always have modern vehicles and can continue to develop them in close cooperation with the manufacturers. The fact that the vast majority of the buses come from a Munich-based manufacturer is good news for Germany as an industrial location."

Dennis Affeld, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Germany: "With this framework agreement, Deutsche Bahn is receiving an extremely flexible overall package of efficient diesel vehicles, hybrid models, and fully electric buses. We offer the right technology for every route requirement and at the same time contribute to making the climate targets for the coming years achievable."

Efficient diesel vehicles, innovative hybrid models, sustainable eBuses

MAN Lion’s Intercity LE vehicles in three different lengths are to be delivered for intercity transport. The low-entry model combines high ride comfort with efficient fuel consumption and impresses with its modern design and practical flexibility.

For urban transport, the focus is on the versatile MAN Lion's City family with efficient drive technology. Deutsche Bahn can choose from a wide range of low-floor buses with conventional diesel or CNG drives. The MAN EfficientHybrid system additionally supports economical operation and contributes to low life cycle costs.

A particular focus is on the fully electric and award-winning MAN Lion’s City E series. A significant proportion of the vehicles to be delivered are sustainable city buses with battery-electric drive – available in 10-, 12- or 18-meter versions. The compact 10-meter buses are ideal for narrow inner-city areas, while the 12-meter version offers a balanced combination of space, ride comfort, and agility. The 18-meter variant is ideal for busy routes with high passenger volumes. With powerful electric motors and batteries manufactured in-house, quiet operation, and high passenger capacity, MAN e-buses are setting new standards for urban electric mobility.

With the framework agreement covering the period from 2027 to 2032, MAN Truck & Bus and Deutsche Bahn are strengthening their long-standing, trusting cooperation and jointly sending a clear signal for sustainable, efficient, and future-oriented mobility in public passenger transport.

“This order is an important step on our journey to make urban transport around the world even cleaner, quieter, and safer. At the same time, it demonstrates the strategic importance of our international chassis business,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "We are delighted to be setting new standards for electric mobility on the African continent together with the Paruk Group."

The Lion's Explorer E vehicles ordered are based on the Lion's Chassis E, which was developed specifically for international markets. Unlike in Europe, where MAN produces and sells complete buses, the focus in the global market is on chassis that are completed in the respective countries by certified body manufacturers. With the Lion's Explorer E, MAN is producing both the chassis and the body in South Africa.

Production of the eBuses will be carried out locally

All 100 vehicles will be manufactured entirely on site: the chassis at the MAN plant in Pinetown and the bodies at the Olifantsfontein plant. With local production, MAN is strengthening industrial value creation in the region and contributing to the development of green bus production there. The Lion's Explorer E, with a length of 12 meters, is designed as a high-floor vehicle with steps for entry. The four battery packs, each with a capacity of 80 kWh, are located between the axles under the floor. Delivery of the fleet will begin in 2026 and will be completed by the end of 2027.

“We operate one of the largest MAN bus fleets globally – a testament to over 30 years of trust, partnership, and shared vision. Our move from diesel to electric isn’t just a technological shift but a promise to our continued focus on sustainable transport solutions in the region. It is a bold step – but with MAN at our side, it feels like a natural evolution,” says Mohmed Paruk, owner of the Paruk Group, which operates primarily in South Africa. The company's fleet comprises around 2,000 buses, of which around 1,500 are MAN vehicles.

“We are proud to not only bring the first MAN eBuses on the African roads, but to be the first manufacturer, across both passenger and commercial vehicles, in the South African automotive industry to localize the production of an electric vehicle,” says Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa.

First MAN eBus delivered in Africa in 2023

MAN delivered the first fully electric bus for the African market in Cape Town in 2023. The Lion's Explorer E was adapted to local requirements and also manufactured locally. “Thanks to manufacturing in South Africa, we can ensure that the eBuses perfectly meet the needs of transport companies and can also be integrated into existing processes in the best possible way,” says Oktay. “With the major order that has now been signed, we are convinced that electric mobility in South Africa will gain significant momentum.”

MAN Truck & Bus is the market leader in the bus business in South Africa. The goal is to achieve this position in the electric bus market as well. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that the new eBus is as well received in South Africa as our Lion's City E is in Europe, with around 3,000 units already delivered,” says Oktay.

The Sby Award has now been presented for the eighth time. As in previous years, the jury recognized only the most innovative and sustainable buses on the European market. “In the past two years, we won the award in the intercity and city bus categories with our MAN Lion’s City 12 E LE and Lion’s City 10 E. This year, our MAN Lion’s Coach E convinced the jury and prevailed over the competition,” explained Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus, adding: “This underscores our leading position in the eBus sector – and we’re very pleased about that.”

The Sby Award is the only European accolade that honors innovative and sustainable technologies shaping the future of mobility. It is awarded by a jury of specialist journalists from ten European countries. They presented the award to the MAN Lion’s Coach E because the eCoach sets technological standards for sustainable long-distance travel. The coach features a fully electric drivetrain with a continuous output of 330 kW and a usable battery capacity of up to 480 kWh, enabling fast charging and a range of up to 650 kilometers – ideal for tourism. The MAN Lion’s Coach E also excels in safety, equipped with an advanced driver assistance package including Emergency Brake Assist EBA Plus with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control ACC with Stop & Go function, lane-keeping assist, the OptiView mirror replacement system, and the innovative MAN Safe StopAssist. These technologies ensure compliance with the latest active and passive safety standards. In terms of comfort, the vehicle offers numerous options and solutions for a customizable and barrier-free interior. The jury particularly emphasized the sustainability aspect: the model achieves a recycling rate of over 95% of its components, is manufactured in facilities certified to international environmental standards, and features responsible battery lifecycle management.

“That our eCoach received such a prestigious bus award at its world premiere is a tremendous success. Behind it is a dedicated team passionately committed to sustainable and innovative solutions,” concluded Oktay, adding: “Our goal is for all our eBuses to impress every day – with range, reliability, comfort, and environmental friendliness that excite drivers, passengers, and operators alike.”

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. Exhibition overview: MAN at Busworld Europe 2025
2. Sustainable travel: MAN's first fully electric coach
3. More flexible, more efficient, safer: MAN eBuses to feature new batteries from in-house production from 2025
4. Economical and safe on intercity routes: MAN Lion’s Intercity now with EfficientHybrid drive
5. Safer and more comfortable: New MAN minibuses based on TGE Next Level
6. Brand flagship NEOPLAN Skyliner debuts at Busworld as a state-of-the-art ‘Auwärter Edition’
7. For greater safety: Intelligent support and protection for drivers and passengers

"We are delighted that our innovations have impressed the expert jury and that MAN has won the Busworld Digital Award for the second time," said Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, at the award ceremony. This took place yesterday during the official Busworld press conference in Brussels. This was the second edition of the competition, which focuses on digital solutions that make public transport and travel safer, more efficient and more comfortable. In addition to the "Digitally Enhanced Driving" category won by MAN, developments in the categories "Digital Operational Excellence", "E-Mobility Management" and "Digital On-Board Comfort" were also honoured.  A jury of experts from the bus industry, private entrepreneurs, journalists and UX (user experience) designers had compiled a shortlist from a large number of submissions and selected the winners from this list.

Innovation with major safety benefits

The intelligent MAN SafeStop Assist particularly impressed the jury because it helps to prevent serious bus accidents. These occur time and again when drivers are no longer able to control their vehicles due to medical or other emergencies. This is exactly where MAN SafeStop Assist comes in: if the system detects that the driver is no longer able to act, it automatically and safely brings the bus to a halt. This is made possible by the sophisticated interaction of several highly developed systems, such as the attention, lane return and emergency brake assistants.

"It happens time and again that drivers suddenly become unresponsive – with fatal consequences," says Kiess. "With SafeStop Assist, we offer a solution that can prevent such scenarios. In doing so, we are setting new standards in safety for passengers, drivers and other road users."

Unique in the double-decker segment

Since the 2024 model year, MAN SafeStop Assist has been available for the MAN Lion’s Intercity, MAN Lion’s Coach, NEOPLAN Tourliner and NEOPLAN Skyliner – the only European double-decker bus. At Busworld, visitors to the MAN stand can experience a NEOPLAN Skyliner "Auwärter Edition" equipped with the system as standard. The new fully electric MAN Lion's Coach E, which is celebrating its world premiere in Brussels, also features SafeStop Assist.

“No other manufacturer currently offers a comparable system for all current coach models,” emphasises Kiess, adding: “This makes SafeStop Assist one of the most significant innovations in our extensive range of driver assistance systems – not only in technical terms, but above all in terms of safety in coach transport.”

MAN Truck & Bus's proven digital fleet management service Perform is getting an AI-supported assistant. It uses Perform's comprehensive vehicle usage data and driving style analyses, as well as an extensive knowledge database in the background, to create tailor-made performance analyses and recommendations for action for fleet managers. Following a successful launch in Austria in spring 2025, the innovative feature is now also available to Perform customers in Germany, with other European countries to follow gradually.  

The new chat function allows fleet managers to simply formulate their analysis requirements in everyday language. Questions such as ‘Which drivers have room for improvement?’ or ‘What recommendations can I give to drivers?’, the AI immediately provides understandable evaluations and concrete recommendations that can be passed on directly to the drivers. 

"Imagine you have a personal assistant who simplifies your everyday life and revolutionises it, like AI does when planning trips or shopping online. An assistant who saves you time and money and gives you new ideas. This is exactly the added value we are now bringing to fleet management with the Digital Fleet Assistant," explains Karl-Maximilian Strobel, Head of Product Management Services at MAN Truck & Bus.  

Even faster analyses with the new Digital Fleet Assistant
The Digital Fleet Assistant ensures up to three times faster and more targeted evaluation of the extensive information. The AI-supported analysis tool evaluates a wide range of data, including driving behaviour, fuel consumption, use of assistance systems and technical information such as downtime and wear. This data is intelligently linked to a continuously updated knowledge database containing training materials, technical manuals and practical experience. The fleet manager receives the desired evaluations directly in the chat in a clear and easy-to-understand format – including recommendations for action tailored to the fleet, such as tips for more economical driving.  

Popular with fleet managers: Perform 
Perform is one of MAN's most widely used digital services. The service on the RIO platform accesses numerous data from vehicle use in near real time and provides detailed overviews of vehicle utilisation, driving style and even the severity of the transport tasks performed for individual vehicles or entire fleets – always taking into account the respective route profiles and traffic conditions. 

Fleet managers can use this information to draw conclusions about untapped efficiency potential or unnecessary vehicle wear and tear. The data is provided in a neutral and comparable format, enabling an objective assessment of driver and vehicle performance. For example, it shows how proactively the vehicle was driven and whether the defined speed range was frequently exceeded or the accelerator pedal was often pressed despite active cruise control. This is important information for targeted driver training, for example.  

Thanks to the interaction between Perform and the MAN Driver App, drivers can also access their individual performance data, view their ratings and thus improve their driving style independently. 

Further information on Perform and all other MAN Digital Services is available on the MAN Marketplace at www.man.eu/marketplace. 

MAN Truck & Bus is presenting itself at this year's Busworld Europe in Brussels with a clear commitment to sustainable mobility and innovative technology. The company is using the largest international bus trade fair from 4 to 9 October 2025 to showcase the next stage of its zero-emission strategy. The focus of the trade fair presentation is the world premiere of the MAN Lion’s Coach 14 E, the first fully electric coach from a European manufacturer. Visitors to the stand in Hall 4 can also expect to see four other innovative vehicles from the MAN and NEOPLAN brands, state-of-the-art technology such as the MAN BatteryPack, and a comprehensive range of services and digital offerings. "With our eCoach, we are entering a new era of emission-free travel. With the electrification of our fleet, numerous innovations in equipment and technology, and modern services, we are consistently focusing on efficient, sustainable and digitalised transport," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. 

World premiere: MAN Lion’s Coach 14 E  

With the Lion's Coach 14 E, which is celebrating its world premiere in Brussels, MAN is launching the first battery-electric coach from a major European manufacturer. Following the success of the Lion's City E family, with almost 3,000 e-buses already produced for urban and interurban use, the company is now setting the next milestone in sustainable mobility. The fully electric coach uses the proven drive technology from the successfully series-produced eTruck and innovative NMC battery packs. These are manufactured in large series at the Nuremberg plant. "By drawing on proven components from the truck sector and our many years of experience with electric city buses, bus operators benefit from high reliability and synergy effects in service and spare parts supply," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. The Lion's Coach E has a usable energy capacity of 320 to 480 kWh. Under optimal conditions, it can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometres – a distance that allows many typical travel routes to be covered without recharging. In addition to the technology, the smart design concept, which significantly reduces the drag coefficient (Cw value), is also impressive. At the same time, the eCoach offers space for up to 63 passengers without any restrictions on luggage volume compared to the diesel version.  

Lion’s City E model year 2025 with new MAN BatteryPack 

A second highlight at the MAN stand is the Lion's City 12 E LE, which will be presented at the trade fair with numerous innovations for the 2025 model year. The vehicle thus represents the next major product update of the successful Lion's City E. Particular focus is on the new battery generation with the latest lithium-ion battery technology (NMC) from MAN's own production facility in Nuremberg. Production of the MAN BatteryPack is currently being ramped up there to a capacity of up to 50,000 units per year. The new packs feature even higher energy density, optimised safety systems and improved charging flexibility. For operators, drivers and passengers, this means greater efficiency and safety. In addition, the low-entry bus on display has Class II approval – another world premiere at the exhibition stand. 

NEOPLAN Skyliner and Tourliner: exclusivity meets innovation 

The premium brand NEOPLAN is also making a special impression at Busworld Europe. Two coaches are causing a stir in Brussels: the NEOPLAN Skyliner "Auwärter Edition", which is celebrating its trade fair premiere, pays tribute to the brand's heritage as a limited special edition. With its aerodynamic "Sharp Cut" design, state-of-the-art technology and nostalgic features, it combines tradition and the future. Another real eye-catcher is the NEOPLAN Tourliner C, whose D2676 LOH engine with increased power and torque, optimised drivetrain and 353 kW (480 hp) delivers fuel savings of up to 2.5 per cent. The latest member of the NEOPLAN family scores not only in terms of comfort and economy, but also in terms of functionality and safety. The Tourliner, which can be seen at the trade fair in an eye-catching "Safe and Secure" design, is equipped with numerous assistance systems, including the innovative MAN SafeStop Assist.

MAN TGE Next Level as the basis for advanced minibuses 

The completely revamped MAN TGE Coach is also celebrating its trade fair premiere at the Busworld stand. It is part of the further developed minibus portfolio based on the completely redesigned base vehicle of the 2025 model year – the MAN TGE Next Level. The minibus impresses with innovative safety systems and an ergonomic driver's workplace with a digital cockpit and multifunction steering wheel. 

MAN Lion’s Intercity EfficientHybrid – efficiency in intercity transport 

Outside the exhibition hall – in the immediate vicinity of the MAN stand in Hall 4 – visitors can also expect another world premiere: the MAN Lion’s Intercity with EfficientHybrid drive. The technology, which has already caused a stir in the current Lion’s City generation and in the Lion’s Intercity low-entry models, is now also being introduced in the high-floor segment. Energy is recovered and stored during braking. When stationary, the D15 diesel engine can be switched off thanks to start-stop technology – for silent stops and lower emissions. In addition, the stored energy supports the engine in boost mode, which saves fuel and reduces pollution. 

More than just vehicles: services and digital solutions 

MAN sees sustainable mobility as a holistic task. That is why, in addition to pioneering vehicles, the company is also presenting a "NEOPLAN eCoach 2040 Future Concept" and an "Innovation Corner" on the topic of design at Busworld – with concepts for the use of sustainable materials, for example in bus seats for the journeys of tomorrow. Extensive services will also be presented: MAN Transport Solutions offers tailor-made solutions for the transition to eMobility – from charging infrastructure and deployment planning to TCO calculations. MAN DigitalServices' digital services also support operators in the efficient control of their vehicles, for example through fleet management, predictive maintenance and consumption analyses.

"Our customers can expect not only state-of-the-art vehicles from us, but also a complete all-round offering in terms of sustainable mobility – from batteries and consulting to digital tools," says Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus, adding: "Our goal is to play a key role in shaping the future of bus transport. With several premieres, the next generation of batteries, our expanded electric portfolio, exclusive NEOPLAN solutions, innovative hybrid technologies and comprehensive services, we as a company are sending a clear signal for sustainable and economical mobility." 

MAN Truck & Bus is expanding its international business activities in the bus sector and intends to enter into a new strategic partnership in Azerbaijan. Together with Improtex Trucks & Buses, MAN's long-standing local partner, and the Government of Azerbaijan, the aim is to expand economic cooperation in the Asian country and make urban mobility more sustainable and emission-free. To this end, Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Fizuli Alakbarov, President of Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC, signed a memorandum of understanding at a meeting in Baku. With this memorandum of understanding, all partners reaffirm their shared interest in future cooperation on the introduction and local xKD production of MAN eBuses. 

"With this agreement, we are opening a new chapter in our international cooperation. Azerbaijan is investing in sustainable urban mobility – and we are contributing our expertise in the field of electromobility. Together, we are making an important contribution to clean and efficient transport solutions in the region," says Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus.  

First vehicles to be delivered in 2026 

The partners plan to establish local xKD production for e-buses: vehicles will be partially assembled, exported to Azerbaijan together with components, and then assembled and tested on site to create the complete product. The first Lion's City E buses are scheduled for delivery in Azerbaijan as early as 2026. To ensure MAN's high standards in terms of production and product quality, MAN is supporting its partners in building up the necessary expertise and training employees. The long-term goal is to continuously expand production and gradually increase local value creation – among other things, through the use of locally manufactured components. 

International bus business is an important growth driver 

MAN Truck & Bus is consistently pursuing its strategy of expanding its international bus business as an important growth driver. In addition to Europe, global markets are becoming increasingly important. With the planned cooperation in Azerbaijan, MAN is also laying the foundation for further growth in the region. "International business is of great importance to us. We see enormous growth potential in markets outside Europe and are consistently driving forward our internationalisation," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "The partnership with Azerbaijan shows how we want to leverage this potential together with strong local partners." 

Sustainable in passenger transport: top marks for CO₂ emissions

The Skyliner is not only the flagship of the NEOPLAN model range, it is also a triple champion in the important disciplines of climate protection, efficiency, and safety. Due to its high capacity, which makes maximum use of the physical limits of the vehicle concept, there is hardly a more sustainable way of traveling on the road. With up to 83 (travel version) or 96 (long-distance version “Skyliner Express”) passengers, modern MAN drive technology makes it possible to reduce CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometer to well below ten grams – a top value that has also been confirmed by independent tests. With up to 11 cubic meters of luggage space, the double-decker offers more storage space than other competitors. In addition, the low-floor lower deck with space for up to two wheelchairs makes it ideal for the booming long-distance services in Europe.

Limited Skyliner “Auwärter Edition” to mark anniversary

To mark the 85th birthday of Konrad Auwärter and the 90th anniversary of the NEOPLAN brand, the company is presenting a limited edition of 30 “Auwärter Edition” models at the Busworld Europe trade fair in Brussels. This edition is particularly striking thanks to its classic “stainless steel plank” design with the stylized Auwärter swing arm, which adorned both the front masks and the factory buildings of the traditional brand and its vehicles – as it still does today at the Auwärter car park in Pilsting. These design features are complemented by high-quality aluminum rims. Comparably elegant details are also evident in the cockpit and the high-quality interior. In addition, elegant stainless steel and wood-look details from the NEOPLAN Individual collection have been incorporated. In addition to the optional driver's berth at door 2, the Skyliner offers a practical storage space directly next to the large L-shaped kitchen with access from the inside and outside, as well as a particularly spacious toilet on the lower deck. The experts in bus modification at the Ankara plant are responsible for this high-quality carpentry work. Other features of the new edition include the modern OptiView mirror replacement system, the Lane Return Assist and MAN SafeStop Assist driver assistance systems – for greater safety and comfort on the road.

“To this day, Konrad Auwärter and his life's work remain inextricably linked to our premium brand NEOPLAN,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "On behalf of the entire MAN and NEOPLAN family, we would like to congratulate him on his 85th birthday with this attractive special model and wish him all the best! The history of NEOPLAN and also that of the Skyliner would be inconceivable without his expertise and unbridled passion for automobiles."

E-Mutiara offers express bus connections to all major cities on the Malaysian peninsula and in Singapore. In future, the 67 new coaches will also be used on these routes. To ensure that passengers and drivers travel as comfortably and safely as possible at all times, the vehicles are equipped with numerous assistance, telematics and safety systems such as emergency brake assist, lane departure warning and cruise control. The innovative systems, as well as the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the chassis, were the key reasons why E-Mutiara chose MAN. In addition, the comprehensive service and maintenance package from MAN Truck & Bus Malaysia offers long-term operational reliability.

For international markets: chassis from MAN

While MAN produces and sells complete buses in Europe, the company mainly offers chassis on the global market. These are then assembled into complete buses in the country by certified body manufacturers - as is the case with the current order from Gemilang. “The order from Malaysia not only marks the important partnership with the E-Mutiara consortium, but also demonstrates the strategic importance of our international chassis business,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “We see enormous growth potential not only in Asia.”

About E-Mutiara and Gemilang

E-Mutiara was founded in the 1970s with just two buses. The company is now one of the leading providers of passenger transportation in Malaysia. In 1992, it also entered the express bus sector. Today, E-Mutiara operates a fleet of over 120 modern coaches connecting major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Gemilang Coachwork, based in Malaysia, is one of the world's leading body manufacturer for city buses and coaches. The company has been working successfully with MAN for many years and has built over 1,000 MAN chassis as double-decker, solo and articulated buses for use in Singapore

At the official handover, TSV 1860 Munich's managing director Dr. Christian Werner, team captain Jesper Verlaat, and goalkeeper Thomas Dähne accepted the keys from Dr. Marc Langendorf, Head of Communications & Government Affairs at MAN Truck & Bus. The new team bus will make its debut on September 6, when the Lions take to the road for the first time in their new vehicle for the Toto Cup match against FV Illertissen.

"MAN and TSV 1860 Munich both stand for tradition, passion, and strong roots in the region. We have enjoyed a close partnership for many years that goes far beyond the provision of a team bus,“ said Langendorf. ”For us as a Munich-based company with the lion on our radiator grille, it is something special to have accompanied the Lions on their journey for so long – and to continue traveling together in the future."

TSV 1860 Managing Director Dr. Christian Werner: “The new coach leaves nothing to be desired.” The partnership with the Munich-based company is a success story in any case. “MAN has been accompanying us throughout Germany since 2006, now in its 20th year. Tradition, loyalty, and the lion as our heraldic animal connect us, as does our location in Munich. That's why I'm delighted that we will continue to travel together in the future.”

Luxury over 13.36 meters

The new MAN Lion's Coach C impresses not only with its imposing appearance featuring 1860 branding, but above all with its exceptional interior. The players take their seats in 34 exclusive genuine leather passenger seats – each seat has a massage and heating function that can even be controlled individually via QR code.

Four vis-à-vis tables with integrated LCD monitors, a state-of-the-art multimedia system, and a professional kitchen ensure perfect communication and relaxation. USB-A and USB-C ports under each double seat, 230V sockets, and a Wi-Fi router ensure that the players can stay connected at all times.

As a special highlight, the coach projects the 1860 Lion logo into the entrance area when boarding – a symbol of the club's pride and tradition. In addition, the RGB ambient lighting creates a unique atmosphere in the interior.

Safety and efficiency at the highest level

The 13.36-meter-long coach is powered by a D2676 LOH 6-cylinder diesel engine with an impressive 375 kW (510 hp). The automated 12-speed MAN TipMatic transmission with integrated retarder ensures a particularly smooth and efficient ride – perfect for the players to recharge during the journey.

State-of-the-art safety technology is naturally on board: ESP, LGS, Emergency Brake Assist, and MAN AttentionGuard ensure that the Lions always arrive safely at their destination. The innovative Birdview 360° system with four HD cameras and the MAN OptiView mirror replacement system with Cornereye function offer the driver optimum all-round visibility and enable safe turning and maneuvering.

MAN Truck & Bus has been successfully committed to team sports for many years. In addition to TSV 1860 Munich, other top clubs in German professional football from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, such as FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Hannover 96, also rely on the proven quality and reliability of MAN team buses.

MAN Truck & Bus is now offering its customers a new, exclusive option for charging their electric trucks and buses. The Smart Charging Cube is being offered in cooperation with AW Automotive. It can be operated in a vehicle depot or maintenance yard as well as in decentralised locations, such as construction sites. Depending on local conditions, it can be connected to the mains with a current of 32 A to 630 A. The Smart Charging Cube is essentially a battery with power electronics and a charging station. The battery is available with storage capacities ranging from 500 kWh to 1,100 kWh. One to four charging points can be implemented per cube, with a maximum charging capacity of 400 kW. As a battery storage unit, it is also capable of supplying an external MCS charging station, enabling charging capacities of 1,000 kW.

The Smart Charging Cube can integrate self-generated electricity, for example from photovoltaic systems. In addition, various charging functions are possible, including peak shaving, dynamic power consumption and bidirectional charging. It is now available to MAN customers for the first time. The Cube can be purchased, leased or rented.

Valencia's sustainable transformation gathers pace

MAN has secured the largest share of one of the most extensive public orders for electric and hybrid buses in Spain this year. The order is part of a large-scale investment plan by the city of Valencia to modernize its bus fleet and reduce local emissions. "The aim is to make public transport in the metropolis as sustainable as possible. This is also possible thanks to our city buses, which stand for efficiency, reliability and environmental friendliness," says Katzer. "EMT's decision shows their confidence in our products and our technological expertise. We are delighted to be working with Valencia to make an important contribution to the transport revolution in one of Spain's largest cities."

With the tender for a total of 161 buses, Valencia is systematically driving forward the renewal of its fleet. The fleet conversion is part of a comprehensive investment program with a total volume of around 170 million euros, which provides for the introduction of 218 new electric and hybrid buses by 2028. The aim is to significantly reduce the average age of the fleet and reduce the proportion of diesel buses to below 7 percent by 2027. The new MAN vehicles - the Lion's City E with a length of 12 meters and the Lion's City EfficientHybrid with a length of 18 meters for maximum capacity requirements - will be delivered and put into operation in stages from the end of 2026.

Electrifying: MAN is pursuing a clear zero-emission strategy

The order from Valencia once again underlines MAN's leading role in sustainable mobility. The company is pursuing a clear zero-emission strategy and the MAN Lion's City E family has already been in successful operation for six years - with over 2,500 vehicles in Europe that have already covered more than 100 million kilometers. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, sales amounted to 283 eBuses. This corresponds to more than 50 percent of the city buses sold by MAN in Europe.

In addition to Oktay, Thomas Hemmerich, Head of Sales Area International, and Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus, were present at the signing ceremony on behalf of MAN Truck & Bus. Matar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, Marwan Al Zarooni, Director Buses Department and Khalid Al Awadi, Director Transportation Systems, were present from RTA, as well as Afaf Kontar, Chief Operating Officer, and Khalifa Saif Darwish, Managing Director, from United Motors. “This significant milestone about the cooperation between MAN, United Motors and RTA shows that MAN keeps on producing the right products for the Middle East region for more than 15 years," reports Thomas Hemmerich, Head of Sales Area International.

The city buses, which score points for comfort, safety and environmental friendliness, are to be delivered from October 2025 and enter service in January 2026. The 12-metre buses will be powered by a 330 hp 9-litre diesel engine (D1556) that meets the Euro 6 emissions standard. Thanks to their high efficiency and low emissions, the vehicles fit in perfectly with RTA's sustainability goals. When ordering the city buses, each with 35 seats, the focus was on comfort and safety for drivers and passengers. They are equipped with advanced safety systems, including ESP (Electronic Stability Program), Lane Departure Warning, Collision Warning, Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Turn Assist. The vehicles therefore comply with international standards in terms of safety and accessibility: Class 1 and 2 approval, ECE R66/02, ECE R118, ECE R107 and ECE R36.

Long-standing partners stand for innovation and reliability

The partnership between RTA Dubai and United Motors has existed since 2008. Since then, the companies have aimed to make public transport even more reliable, innovative and better. The successful cooperation began 17 years ago with the delivery of 150 NEOPLAN articulated buses, 75 NEOPLAN solo buses and 170 NEOPLAN double-decker buses. This was followed in 2017 by the handover of a further 79 MAN double-deckers, which further strengthened the capacity and performance of the RTA fleet.

Today, around 200 city buses from the two brands MAN and NEOPLAN are still in use. Some of these have now achieved an impressive mileage of almost two million kilometers - proof of the longevity of the vehicles and the quality of maintenance and servicing. In addition to outstanding product quality, United Motors also impresses with its first-class service. RTA has therefore recognized the company as the best solution provider for public buses in the last two years, which once again underscores United Motors' commitment to performance and customer satisfaction. And MAN, United Motors and RTA want to continue to advance public transportation in Dubai in the future and create a mobility system that is fit for the future and sets standards.

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. UITP Summit 2025: MAN Lion’s City E with new battery generation celebrates world premiere
2. More flexible, more efficient, safer: MAN eBuses with new batteries from in-house production from 2025 onwards
3. Automation: MAN is working consistently on driverless buses

MAN eBus and battery exhibit at the trade fair stand in Hall 4

The Lion's City 10 E with the new MAN battery generation will be on display in Hall A4 from June 16 to 18. The 10.5 meter long eBus is equipped with two doors, innovative assistance systems and four battery packs with an installed capacity of 356 kWh. The compact bus can make the most of its advantages as a booster at peak times and as a city center shuttle. With 27 seats and 54 standing places, it has a similar passenger capacity to many 12-meter buses, but requires less traffic space and is much more manoeuvrable. The new batteries also contribute to the issue of capacity. The new generation is more efficient, lighter and has a higher energy density and improved depth of discharge. As a result, the city bus requires fewer battery packs despite the range remaining the same or even increasing - which creates space for more passengers. In addition to its efficiency, the MAN BatteryPack also impresses with its safety and sustainability. In total, up to 96 percent of the batteries, which can cover a total of 1 million kilometers over a service life of up to 14 years, can be recycled. Series production of the battery system, which will be installed in all future eBuses and eTrucks, has been ramping up at the MAN plant in Nuremberg since April. More information will be provided on June 18 at 11:30 a.m. in the expert presentation “THE NEW MAN BATTERY PACK - lifelong energy, one reliable partner” by Christoph Matousek, Launch Manager Bus at MAN.

MAN continues its eBus success story in Hamburg

Even before the UITP Summit opens its doors in Hamburg, the “Mobility Festival” will take place on June 14, transforming Jungfernstieg into a meeting place for all those who are rethinking mobility. “Hamburg is a special place for us, as this is where our eBus success story began at the end of 2019 with the first handover of two MAN Lion's City E buses,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: ”Today, over 2,500 of our eBuses are in operation throughout Europe. We are therefore all the more pleased that the Lion's City E with the new MAN BatteryPack is making its debut here.” With the latest update of the eBus, MAN is continuing its commitment to sustainable solutions in public transport, which are more in demand than ever. The Paris Climate Agreement calls for global warming to be limited to well below two degrees. MAN is pursuing a clear zero-emissions strategy in order to meet this goal and its own commitment to sustainable mobility. “We are convinced that the future belongs to the electric drive,” says Katzer.

All-round advice and digital services for the switch to eMobility

In addition to future-proof solutions, MAN relies on a highly qualified team of eMobility experts and all-round advice when switching to eMobility. The entire transition process is considered with a 360° analysis. The aim is to ensure a successful transition to electric mobility with as little effort as possible for the operators. But even after the switch to e-vehicles, MAN's experts are there to support customers with their expertise and digital tools.

SaveTheDate: MAN at the UITP Summit 2025

The UITP Summit is the world's largest event for sustainable urban mobility. It brings together transport providers, authorities, operators and exhibitors. The focus is on innovations and products for the public transport of tomorrow. The most important MAN dates at a glance:

• MAN meets Mobility Festival: June 14, 2025 | 12:00 - 19:00 | Jungfernstieg, Hamburg
• MAN press briefing: June 16, 2025 | 11:30 - 12:00 | MAN trade fair stand (A4100), Hamburg
• MAN expert presentation by Christoph Matousek, Launch Manager Bus, as part of the UITP 2025 conference program: 18 June 2025 | 11:30 - 12:30, Expo Session B (Hall A4): “THE NEW MAN BATTERY PACK - lifelong energy, one reliable partner”

“Passenger numbers have increased, and during peak hours we've seen situations where all tickets are sold out. The addition of 500 extra seats per day should help solve the increasingly pressing issue where people are left without bus tickets during popular times or have to stand for hours on overcrowded trains,” explains Ingmar Roos, member of the management board at Lux Express.

More passengers per journey, less pressure on other modes of transport

From now on, the nine Skyliner double-decker coaches will offer passengers an attractive alternative at hourly intervals: Every day from six o'clock in the morning, they depart from Tartu in the direction of Tallinn; in the opposite direction, the first coach leaves at seven o'clock in the morning. In total, they cover the route more than 30 times a day in both directions.

In addition to more seats, the modernization of the Lux Express bus fleet also brings ecological and logistical benefits: more passengers can now be transported per journey - which helps to reduce the total number of buses on the roads and reduce the pressure on other modes of transport. Lux Express has invested a total of six million euros in this. “This is the largest investment in our company’s history, aimed at offering a more sustainable, higher-capacity, and better-planned service,” says Roos. “The double-decker coaches not only increase our passenger capacity – they also add clear value to the entire mobility system by reducing peak-time congestion and improving access to high-quality transport.”

Two worlds in one coach

The nine Skyliner coaches were handed over to Lux Express in Tallinn by the MAN Sales Bus Team together with the local Estonian sales partner Keil M.A. OÜ. “Commuters and tourists can now travel between the two Estonian cities of Tallinn and Tartu in complete relaxation - thanks to our luxurious double-decker coaches, which offer two worlds in one vehicle: Lounge ambience on the lower level and the light-flooded upper deck with comfortable 2+1 seating and panoramic views,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “I am particularly pleased that passengers will not only travel in extreme comfort in the future, but will also be extremely sustainable thanks to the highly efficient diesel drive.”

About Lux Express

Lux Express is Estonia's leading long-distance bus company and has developed into one of the largest providers in the Baltic States since it was founded in 1994. The company offers comfortable and reliable connections in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Russia. The main target groups are business travelers, tourists and commuters who value comfort, punctuality and high-quality services.

MAN eCoach follows consistent zero-emission strategy

To take account of environmental and climate protection, MAN is working with its customers to promote sustainable mobility. The company is pursuing a clear zero-emission strategy and has already been successfully on the road for six years with the Lion's City E family for urban and interurban areas. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, sales amounted to a total of 283 electric buses, which corresponds to more than 50 percent of the city buses sold by MAN in Europe. Consequently, MAN is also focusing on the electrification of coach transport. The MAN Lion's Coach E meets both social requirements for climate protection and customer wishes for sustainable travel.

Series production is scheduled to start in 2026 at MAN's Turkish plant in Ankara, which has been successively converted to eMobility in recent months. “The realignment at the site in Ankara is an important part of MAN's transformation into a provider of sustainable transport solutions,” emphasizes Oktay. In the run-up to series production of the eCoach, an “early fleet” is to go to selected pioneering customers in the European core markets next year.

Wide range of applications: from shuttle services to city trips

In the first stage of the development of the vehicle and public charging infrastructure, the preferred areas of application for the MAN Lion's Coach E will be short and medium distances with a range of up to 650 kilometers. This includes shuttle services, works transport and city trips. “The eCoach is also a real opportunity for coach tourism to reach new target groups for whom sustainability is also a key factor in travel planning,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus. In particular, because with a CCS charging capacity of up to 375 kW in conjunction with the driver's statutory driving and rest periods, a similar usage profile to a diesel bus is already possible today. With the megawatt charging infrastructure (Megawatt Charging System, MCS, up to 750 kW) already under development, the areas of application for electric coaches are also set to expand even further towards long-distance travel in the future.

Proven vehicle concept and dynamic design

The basis for the eCoach is the tried-and-tested Lion's Coach, which was unveiled in 2017. In the first step, the eCoach will hit the road as a 13.9 m long, compact three-axle vehicle with a maximum technically permissible gross weight of 27.3 tons. Up to 61 passengers can travel comfortably in it - with no restrictions on luggage volume from a minimum of 11 to a maximum of 13 cubic meters. Following the electric Lion's Coach 14 E three-axle coach, MAN will be rolling out further models in the coach segment step by step until the turn of the decade.

You can see at first glance that the MAN eCoach is an innovative vehicle. The pioneering “Smart Flow Design” sets new standards. The Lion's Coach E combines smart design with optimum aerodynamic efficiency and innovative details. The aerodynamic precision work of the MAN design team reduces the drag coefficient (Cd value), which is important for coaches, from 0.34 to 0.31 - an impressive value that also has a positive effect on the range. But the “inner workings” of the coach are also ultra-modern. The innovative digital cockpit with intuitive MAN SmartSelect operating concept fits seamlessly into the Lion's Coach E. The absolute driver orientation and the extended assistance systems ensure greater comfort and safety.

"We are delighted that our MAN Lion's City 12 E LE won the readers' poll. The result proves that our bus impresses customers with its flexibility and comfort, but also with its performance and sustainability," says Darko Simeunovic, Head of Bus Sales at MAN Truck & Bus Germany. After all, the all-electric city bus is powered by a powerful central electric motor with a peak output of 240 kW. Thanks to MAN's modular battery concept, operators of city and intercity routes can flexibly adapt the number of battery packs to their needs in terms of charging time, number of passengers and range. They can choose between four to six battery packs with a capacity of up to 480 kWh.

The MAN Lion's City 12 E LE, which is based on the electric 12-metre solo bus, also demonstrates flexibility in terms of its areas of application. The model is designed so that it can be used in both urban and interurban transport. With the floor landscape adapted to customer feedback, it ensures a particularly high level of seating comfort. The bus has 41 passenger seats plus a special area for wheelchairs and baby carriages as well as an engine tower-free rear landscape in a low-entry design, making it ideal for suburban routes with Class 1 approval. The low-entry bus also marks MAN's all-electric entry into the growing intercity bus segment. Class 2 approval for use on intercity routes will soon be possible for the eBus, for which the stricter body rigidity requirements of UN ECE R 66.02 also apply.

The Lion's City 12 E LE celebrated its premiere at Busworld Europe in autumn 2023. "A year later, it received the ‘Sustainable Bus of the Year 2025’ award in the intercity bus category and now it has been awarded the ‘busplaner Innovation Award 2025’ - that's a great success for us. The awards show that our commitment to sustainability, innovative technologies and practical and adaptable solutions for the requirements of modern public transport in the city and also on the intercity market are being well received," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

MAN Truck & Bus has won the Telematik Award in the “Telematics Apps” category with the MAN Driver App. The award recognizes outstanding development achievements and solutions in the field of telematics. It is awarded every two years by a specialist jury consisting of renowned members from business and science as well as specialist journalists, users and experts. With the MAN Driver App, MAN is focusing on “making the benefits of digitalisation accessible to drivers”, says Olaf Lies, the patron of the Telematics Award 2024, Lower Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs, Construction, Transport and Digitalisation.

This is exemplified by the new feature of the MAN Driver App. In conjunction with MAN SimplePay, drivers of MAN trucks and other truck brands can save themselves the way to the checkout at selected acceptance points, as transactions for refuelling can be processed in a contactless manner via the MAN Driver App. For this purpose, fuel cards from the mobility service provider UTA Edenred can be digitally stored in MAN SimplePay. The company's acceptance network comprises around 88,000 outlets in 40 countries.

Around 1,900 petrol stations in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Spain and Hungary currently support the contactless fuel card functionality of MAN SimplePay. Further stations and countries will be added continuously. Truck drivers can also use MAN SimplePay and the MAN Driver App to find the right parking space in the TRAVIS Road Services partner network. The booking of parking spaces and the authorization of transactions also take place in a contactless way via the MAN Driver App. The MAN SimplePay digital platform helps fleet managers to manage the operating costs of their fleet even more economically and to identify potential savings more easily.

These trailers have been used specifically in the automotive segment for years, but also in other areas with high loading space requirements. The high loading volume helps to make transport more environmentally friendly and, in combination with the all-electric MAN eTGX Ulra Low Liner, sustainably reduce CO2 emissions. DB Schenker and MAN have agreed in a Letter of Intent (LOI) 2023 that 100 of the electric lorries will be added to the fleet by 2026.

During the handover of the first MAN eTGX, the two companies also signed a further letter of intent for the delivery of 50 MAN eTGLs. The all-electric 12-tonne truck for urban freight transport can be ordered from April 2025 and is intended to supplement DB Schenker's electric fleet in distribution logistics.

‘We are very proud that the first ten MAN eTGX are now in daily logistics use for DB Schenker. The sustainable decarbonisation of freight transport is our common goal. The new MAN eTruck is not only locally CO2-free, but also fulfils the diverse requirements of our customers. Volume transport is one example of this. No other series-produced electric semitrailer tractor on the market offers such a short wheelbase with maximum battery capacity for trailers with an interior height of three metres. The fact that DB Schenker also wants to rely on MAN for electric distribution transport with the eTGL confirms that our eTruck portfolio offers the right solution for every transport sector,’ explains Friedrich Baumann, Member of the Executive Board for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.

DB Schenker is driving forward the drive revolution in the fleet

DB Schenker has been pursuing a consistent sustainability strategy for many years. In addition to a continuous switch to alternative drive systems, this also includes a permanent increase in efficiency in logistics.

‘As a pioneer in the transition to zero-emission drives, DB Schenker will continue to invest in sustainable solutions in the future. We are delighted to be the first customer to have the opportunity to put a fleet of 10 MAN eTGXs into operation. Some vehicles will be used in daily scheduled services in our general cargo network in two-shift operation, for example in a daily round trip between our locations in Dortmund and Hanover. Other vehicles will be deployed specifically for our customers in the automotive and consumer sectors,’ explains Cyrille Bonjean, Executive Vice President Land Transport at DB Schenker in Europe, and Marc Pühler, Senior Vice President System Operations at DB Schenker in Europe, adds: ’Today is a special day for DB Schenker. In addition to taking delivery of the first long-haul electric trucks from MAN, we have signed a letter of intent to take delivery of 50 MAN eTGL trucks. An electric 12-tonne truck was previously not available on the market. This is changing with the eTGL. The eTGL is ideal for use on the last mile. We are proud to have been able to contribute our expertise to the development and look forward to the first series vehicle.’

MAN eTruck: Technological innovation is the key

The Ultra Low Liner eTruck MAN eTGX is a pioneer in its class: with a semitrailer height of just 950 mm, a very short wheelbase of 3.75 metres and yet maximum battery capacity, it offers a range of around 500 kilometres. This makes it perfect for applications where maximum loading volume up to three metres interior height is crucial. Thanks to its modular battery concept with a choice of four, five or six battery packs and power levels of 449 and 544 hp, it can be optimally adapted to any transport task. In addition to the standard CCS charging technology (up to 375 kW), it can also be ordered with the new MCS standard with up to one megawatt of charging power, which enables even faster intermediate charging during the driver's break from driving. In addition to the MAN eTGX and eTGS for heavy-duty transport tasks, the MAN eTGL rounds off the MAN electric truck portfolio for light distribution transport. With a range of up to 235 kilometres, fast charging in around 30 minutes and a payload of up to 6,600 kilograms, depending on the body, it offers the ideal combination for quiet and locally CO2-free transport in urban goods logistics.

Find the right eMobility solution with 360-degree advice

Transport companies also benefit from MAN's 360-degree eMobility Consulting when switching to electromobility: the advice on switching to electromobility includes customer-specific analyses of vehicle deployment and charging infrastructure requirements. MAN's range of services also includes the provision of charging infrastructure itself through partnerships with charging infrastructure suppliers. In addition, as with conventionally powered trucks, service contracts and financing solutions specially tailored to electric mobility as well as numerous digital services are available for the use of the new electric lions. These include the MAN eReadyCheck, which customers can use to check how their delivery routes can be driven purely electrically, as well as the MAN Charge & Go charging service including charging card, which enables simple, consolidated charging planning and billing for international routes.

Fit for the eTruck with MAN ProfiDrive

‘We train the Future’ is the brand promise of MAN ProfiDrive, MAN's own department for driver training, professional driver qualification and special industry coaching. Training courses for electric vehicles are increasingly in demand from customers. This is because electromobility not only requires knowledge about the safe handling of high-voltage technology, but also significantly changes the driving task. Whereas with diesel engines, braking is avoided as far as possible by adopting a fluid and anticipatory driving style in order to save fuel, a different rule now applies: decelerating with the accelerator pedal is a must in order to recover energy through recuperation. Learning this and putting it into practice is part of the handover training that MAN ProfiDrive offers to all drivers and fleet managers who are switching to electromobility, as it does for DB Schenker.

TIP Group: Flexibility through rental

The first ten MAN eTGXs are being deployed at DB Schenker by the TIP Group, one of the leading manufacturer-independent commercial vehicle rental companies and service providers for the transport and logistics industry. By providing the MAN eTrucks, TIP enables companies such as DB Schenker to react flexibly and quickly to the growing demands of sustainable logistics. ‘Our aim is to equip our customers with modern, environmentally friendly vehicles and support them on their path to greater sustainability,’ explains Oliver Bange, Vice President Central Europe Region of the TIP Group. The company is actively committed to a more sustainable future in the logistics industry. With its focus on the rental of zero-emission vehicles, TIP is making an important contribution to the introduction of zero-emission solutions. This innovative approach not only supports the decarbonisation of the industry, but also consistently drives the transformation towards more climate-friendly logistics.

Funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and Transport

The first ten MAN eTrucks for DB Schenker are being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as part of the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drive systems and associated refuelling and charging infrastructure (KsNI). The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and applications are approved by the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility.

About DB Schenker

With around 72,700 employees at over 1,850 locations in more than 130 countries, DB Schenker is one of the world's leading logistics service providers. The company offers land transport, air and sea freight as well as comprehensive logistics solutions and global supply chain management from a single source. With the aim of creating a sustainable future for the logistics industry, the company continuously invests in innovative transport solutions, renewable energies and low-emission products for its customers.

The National Transport Awards are organized by the trade magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. The jury, made up of specialists and industry experts from Spain, including numerous managers from public transport and bus companies, presents the award to the best vehicles in twelve categories. “The jury members have precise knowledge of which vehicles inspire companies, drivers and passengers and which buses impress with their reliability, comfort, safety and economy. That's why the award is so important to us,” summarizes Fraile.

New features ensure greater safety, efficiency and comfort

Among other things, the new features from the 2024 model year, which significantly enhance the coach once again, generated enthusiasm for the MAN Lion's Coach. With the new electronics platform, which has been used in all MAN and NEOPLAN buses since last year, a completely new cockpit with MAN SmartSelect has found its way into the Lion's Coach. It is the central point of vehicle operation, meets the highest ergonomic standards and can be operated intuitively. “This absolute driver orientation and the extended assistance systems ensure greater comfort and safety,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. One of the most relevant developments in terms of safety systems is the radar-assisted turning aid for the unclear right-hand side of the bus, which can be combined with an optional lane change aid on both sides. The new turning aid detects static objects in the lateral area up to 4.5 meters away and also calculates potential paths of movement in advance. This enables the system to assess the situation in advance and, if necessary, issue a visual and acoustic warning in three stages.

MAN Lion's Coach impresses experts and customers

Another new feature is the MAN D26 coach engine with Euro 6e emissions quality. Despite an increase of ten hp and around 50 Newton meters more torque at the peak, the highly developed 12.4-litre unit now consumes up to 2.5 percent less fuel overall - and makes the Lion's Coach even more efficient. “Drivers, passengers and operators all benefit enormously from the new features. But even before the new features were introduced, the Lion's Coach was already one of the most innovative, safest and most comfortable coaches on the market. This has also been confirmed by numerous awards,” explains Kiess. For example, the MAN Lion's Coach won the prestigious Sustainable Bus Award 2022 (Sby Award) in the “Coach” category. The efficiency, environmental friendliness and flexibility of the modern vehicle were particularly impressive. International trade journalists from the “Bus & Coach of the Year Jury” also named the Lion's Coach “Coach of the Year 2020”. In 2018, the coach won the iF Design Award with its timelessly modern design language. The MAN Lion's Coach is now continuing its success story with the “Coach of the Year in Spain” award.

“In addition to the awards, however, it is above all the orders from our customers that show how well received our Lion's Coach is both nationally and internationally,” says Kiess. Since its market launch at Busworld in the fall of 2017, MAN Truck & Bus has delivered almost 4,500 buses of the successful model to customers throughout Europe (as of 12/2024). In Germany alone, 721 MAN Lion's Coach have been registered. This makes Germany the top market, followed by France (605 registered buses), Spain (516), Italy (508) and Poland (273).

MAN success story at the Spanish National Transport Awards

The National Transport Awards were launched over 35 years ago by the trade magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. Every year, a jury of more than 800 entrepreneurs from the transport sector and experts from the automotive industry select the best vehicle presented on the Spanish market in twelve categories since the last edition of the awards. The decisions are based on a comprehensive analysis of the safety, reliability, profitability and efficiency of the vehicles. In 2020, the NEOPLAN Sykliner and the MAN Lion's City E won the awards. In 2022, the NEOPLAN Cityliner Platinum special model and the new MAN Lion's Intercity LE were voted “Coach of the Year in Spain” and “Bus of the Year in Spain”. One year later, the MAN Lion's City 10 E received the Spanish award. “Our MAN Lion's Coach joins a long line of awards that we owe to a highly committed team. But we are also grateful to our customers, who have placed their trust in us and our buses for many years,” says Fraile.

MAN Truck & Bus is making the transition to electromobility in quick succession: after a construction period of just one year, the company is today celebrating the topping-out ceremony for the new building for the large-scale production of batteries for fully electric trucks and buses at its Nuremberg site. A few weeks after the delivery of the very first MAN eTruck to a customer, the topping-out ceremony is the next highlight for the Munich-based commercial vehicle manufacturer. From April 2025, high-voltage batteries will be manufactured industrially in Nuremberg using state-of-the-art production methods on 17,000square metres. This will create almost 350 new jobs for the future. MAN will be the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to start its own battery series production in Germany. The investment volume for the new building, including investments in logistics, infrastructure, buildings and production facilities, totals around 100 million euros.

Guests at today's topping-out ceremony included the Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder, Nuremberg's Lord Mayor Marcus König, MAN Truck & Bus CEO Alexander Vlaskamp and the Chairman of the Works Council at MAN's Nuremberg site Markus Wansch.

Alexander Vlaskamp: ‘The drives of the future are being created in Nuremberg. Not only are we developing batteries here, but in a few months' time we will also be using the latest technologies to mass-produce them. The topping-out ceremony is an important milestone for our company on the road to the major transformation towards electromobility. And it is also a clear commitment by MAN to Bavaria and Germany as a business location. This was made possible by close collaboration between the company, our works council and Bavarian politicians.’

Currently, battery packs for MAN's all-electric vehicles are already being produced in small series at the Nuremberg site. With the start of large series production, the small series production area will be gradually converted to the development of the next battery generation and the reconditioning of batteries. From April 2025, the delivered modules will be inserted into battery layers in large series production. These layers will be stacked on top of each other to form the battery pack and then put through their paces.

Over 50 manual and automated assembly stations and seven test benches for quality assurance will be installed on an area of 17,000 square metres. The installation of the first production systems has already begun. From April 2025, up to 50,000 batteries per year will be built in an initial expansion phase. Depending on how the market develops, this capacity is to be expanded to up to 100,000 high-voltage batteries by 2030. At over 35 metres high, the new building is the tallest production building at the site.

Ingo Essel, Head of the MAN site in Nuremberg: ‘The entry into electromobility is a decisive step into the future for our site. We have decades of expertise in the development and production of engines and are now also ideally placed to establish ourselves as a centre of excellence for alternative drive technologies.’

The Free State of Bavaria is also funding further development and research into battery technology with around 30 million euros. Among other things, this has enabled the integration of innovative laser welding cells. Laser welding is the most innovative, efficient and gentle production technology in battery module construction. With a powerful 8 kW disc laser, robot-guided optics and ultra-fine sensors, individual battery cells are electrically connected to each other with the highest precision and quality. Together with the Technical University (TU) of Munich, MAN is researching the further development of this technology, which will be used in a future generation of batteries.  

“We are delighted with the order. After all, this is the largest eBus order from a private customer in Austria,” says Rudi Kuchta, Managing Director at MAN Truck & Bus Vertrieb Österreich GesmbH, adding: ”The vehicles also herald the largest changeover from diesel to electric buses in the state of Tyrol to date.” The first two vehicles are due to be delivered in September 2025 and the remaining 25 city buses by the end of 2025. The all-electric solo and articulated buses will be used in local public transport in the Innsbruck region. The 18-metre electric buses offer sufficient space, especially for operations with particularly high passenger volumes.

In addition to their reliability and sustainability, the MAN Lion's City E also impresses with numerous innovations in terms of equipment and features. With the new electronics platform, a completely new cockpit has found its way into the Lion's City E. It is the central point of vehicle operation and meets the highest ergonomic standards. Numerous assistance and safety systems also ensure that the driver, passengers and other road users are as safe as possible on the road. The wheelchair-accessible and barrier-free interior ensures that even people with limited mobility can get from A to B without any problems. Comfort is also ensured by the standard CO₂ air conditioning system, which is both more environmentally friendly and significantly more efficient. “In order to protect the environment and make a contribution for us and our future generations, we are increasingly focusing on the use of electric buses. Our aim is to motivate people to replace individual car journeys with environmentally friendly bus journeys. We are convinced that we can achieve this with the MAN Lion's City E,” says Alexander Ledermair.

Another decisive factor in the decision to choose MAN was the all-round consulting on the switch to eMobility. The MAN Transport Solutions team looks at the entire conversion process with a 360° analysis - with the aim of ensuring a successful transition to electromobility with as little effort as possible for the operators. And even after the switch to e-vehicles, MAN's experts continue to support customers with their expertise and digital tools. For example, Ledermair Holding GmbH relies on the MAN eManager, a smart digital central command system that can be used to control the battery, room temperature and other vehicle parameters from the comfort of your desk. True to the brand's guiding principle of “Simplifying Business”, charging management for the e-fleet becomes more transparent, simpler and more efficient thanks to targeted monitoring and flexible remote operation. The MAN eManager also guarantees high vehicle availability and ensures that the charging status of the batteries always matches the timetable.

Jury honors performance, sustainability and flexibility

The Sby Award is the only European prize to recognize innovative, sustainable technologies that will significantly shape the future of mobility. It is awarded by a trade press jury representing ten European countries in the three categories of city bus, intercity bus and coach. It awarded the prize to the MAN Lion's City 12 E LE because the model meets the growing demand for low-entry buses. The all-electric city bus is powered by a powerful central electric motor with a peak output of 240 kW. MAN's modular battery concept allows the number of battery packs to be flexibly adapted to requirements in terms of charging time, number of passengers and range. The Lion's City 12 E LE offers a choice of four to six battery packs with a capacity of up to 480 kWh. According to the jury, it is characterized by outstanding performance as well as emission-free operation. In addition, operators can optimally manage their electric bus fleet and optimize performance and maintenance thanks to MAN DigitalServices. The verdict also states that the model is designed to be so flexible that it can be used in both urban and interurban transportation. It underlines MAN's commitment to sustainability and at the same time offers a practical and adaptable solution for the requirements of modern public transport. For these reasons, the Lion's City 12 E LE more than deserves the “Sustainable Bus Award”.

Award-winning: MAN eBus family generates enthusiasm

The low-entry bus celebrated its world premiere at Busworld 2023, making it the latest addition to MAN's eBus portfolio. “We are delighted that it has already received this highly prestigious bus award just one year after its premiere. We owe this to a team that works tirelessly for sustainable and innovative solutions,” explains Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: ”This commitment ensures that our eBuses prove themselves day after day in use and score points for range, reliability, comfort and environmental friendliness. This is extremely well received by customers, passengers and experts alike.” Last year, the Lion's City 10 E received the Sby Award 2024 and the Lion's City 12 E is the international “Bus of the Year 2023”.

Perfect for suburban and intercity routes

The Lion's City 12 E LE is based on the electric 12-metre solo bus, but ensures a particularly high level of seating comfort with a floor landscape adapted to customer feedback. With up to 41 passenger seats plus a special area for wheelchairs and baby carriages and a low-entry rear landscape without a motor tower, the Lion's City 12 E LE is perfect for suburban lines with Class 1 approval. The low-entry bus also marks MAN's all-electric entry into the growing intercity bus segment. “Class 2 approval for use on intercity routes will soon be possible for the eBus. The stricter specification for body rigidity in UN ECE R 66.02 will then also apply to these,” explains Kiess.

About the Sustainable Bus Award

The aim of the Sustainable Award is to create a positive awareness of sustainability. Aspects such as safety, comfort, noise development, recyclability of components, but also the manufacturer's general environmental awareness play a role in the jury's assessment. These are issues that are also important to MAN and that drive the company and its employees every day.

Intelligent space concept guarantees quick entry and exit

Following an extensive tendering process, Schiphol decided in favour of the electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus. In addition to the environmental friendliness of the vehicles, the Lion's City E impressed with its spaciousness, efficiency, range and reliability. “Our eBus is perfectly suited to meeting the increasing demand for passenger transport between aircraft and terminal,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “Thanks to the intelligent space concept, our 12-metre solo bus can accommodate a maximum of up to 107 passengers.” In order to transport as many passengers as possible, the electric buses for Schiphol Airport are equipped with a small number of seats. In return, they have maximum standing room for passengers with hand luggage.

New MAN eBuses for even more comfort and reliability

Schiphol has been operating an all-electric bus fleet for ten years, making it one of the first airports in the Netherlands to switch to e-mobility. With the new generation of electric buses from MAN, the airport wants to take a decisive step forward in terms of passenger comfort while continuing to guarantee maximum reliability. “In the coming years, bus transportation will become increasingly important due to ever larger aircraft, among other things. This makes innovative and sustainable vehicles all the more important for us,” says Sybren Hahn.

More and more airports are opting for MAN Lion's City E

With over 60 million passengers, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the fourth largest airport in Europe. “We are proud that more and more major airports are opting for our MAN Lion's City E. It clearly shows that the eBuses do a great job in city transport, but also in other areas of application,” emphasises Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. Cologne-Bonn Airport, for example, already took delivery of MAN eBuses at the beginning of 2023. Munich Airport also recently ordered 49 fully electric Lion’s City E, with an option for a further 25 vehicles.

“Sustainability is a key issue for us. We want Munich Airport's operations to leave no more CO₂ in the atmosphere by 2035 at the latest. With the purchase of the MAN eBuses, we are taking another important step in this direction,” says Jost Lammers, Chief Executive Officer at Flughafen München GmbH (FMG). The fully electric solo and articulated buses are used by AeroGround on the apron. They take passengers and crews from the terminals to their aircraft before take-off or pick them up after landing. For operations with particularly high passenger volumes, the 18-metre articulated buses offer sufficient space to supplement the battery-electric solo buses.

“We are delighted that another airport, Munich Airport, is relying on our MAN Lion's City E. It shows impressively that the eBuses are proving themselves in practical use in city traffic as well as in other areas of application,” explains Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. Cologne-Bonn was the first German airport to take delivery of MAN eBuses at the beginning of 2023.

Innovative features for greater safety and comfort

The Lion's City E delivered to Munich Airport impresses with its reliability and sustainability as well as with numerous innovations in terms of equipment. With the new electronics platform, which will be used in all MAN buses from model year 2024, a completely new cockpit is making its way into the Lion's City E. The centerpiece is the 12-inch driver's display, which is completely digital. Thanks to the high level of user-friendliness of the digital cockpit, which meets the highest ergonomic standards and has a clear design, drivers can concentrate even better on the traffic on the tarmac. Numerous assistance and safety systems, which will be introduced in model year 2024, ensure even greater safety in the Lion's City E. New features include a radar-assisted turning aid for the blind right-hand side of the bus. A collision warning system with pedestrian detection is also on board all buses. It detects the entire front of the vehicle and warns the driver if, for example, people are moving in front of the bus at the boarding point on the way to the aircraft or terminal.

From a single source: eBuses and the right charging solution

The MAN eBuses have an impressive range of up to 350 km. If they need to be charged, 40 charging stations from SBRS will be available at the airport in future. MAN Transport Solutions offers MAN customers the right charging infrastructure in cooperation with SBRS, among others. MAN's aim is to make the switch to e-vehicles and services as safe, uncomplicated and cost-efficient as possible for customers thanks to comprehensive consulting. “The fact that we get our e-buses and the right charging solution from a single source was a decisive factor for us,” says Helmut Ehrnstraßer, Managing Director of AeroGround Flughafen München GmbH, adding: ”The new electric buses with modern equipment are a flagship for Munich Airport, as they are the first and last point of contact for passengers.” Munich Airport's fleet of vehicles includes 32 conventional MAN city buses - and is now being sustainably upgraded with state-of-the-art electric buses.

Large football stadiums such as the Allianz Arena have a very powerful electricity grid due to their high electricity requirements for floodlights, catering operations and other consumers, which is only fully utilised on match days. FC Bayern Munich and its long-standing sponsoring partner MAN Truck & Bus found the ideal conditions for setting up a commercial vehicle charging park and agreed on a corresponding project. Especially as the 100 per cent use of green electricity in the Allianz Arena makes the project even more climate-friendly..

The Allianz Arena is located directly at the busy Munich North motorway junction with its own motorway access: Up to 10,000 lorries a day pass through this important junction for European road freight traffic. An ideal location for the charging park. And FC Bayern will also need charging infrastructure for its own fleet in the future: MAN will deliver the first all-electric coach to FC Bayern as a team bus in the 2025/26 season.

Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of FC Bayern, explains the joint project with MAN: ‘Our society is facing major challenges, especially when it comes to protecting our environment and the climate. For us, the public charging park for commercial vehicles is a continuation of our sustainability efforts to manage the Allianz Arena in an increasingly climate-friendly way.’ Michael Diederich, Deputy CEO of FC Bayern, adds: ‘This project is of great importance to us, and I can think of no better partner than MAN to successfully realise it. Two strong companies from Bavaria are driving into the future in innovative ways and making an important contribution to electrification and climate neutrality in coach and truck transport.’

MAN Transport Solutions, MAN's in-house consultancy for the switch to zero-emission vehicles, was deeply involved in the project. The consultants are supporting the planning and implementation of the public megawatt charging park. MAN Transport Solutions has been advising transport companies on the energy-efficient use of their vehicle fleets, electromobility and charging infrastructure since 2018. What began in the city bus sector, where the electrification of vehicle fleets is already firmly anchored in the market, the consulting expertise is now also benefiting the market launch of MAN's large-series electric truck.    

‘We will only achieve the Paris climate targets if we consistently decarbonise our vehicle fleets. Half of the trucks we produce each year should be electric by 2030. The charging infrastructure is the key to this. As a manufacturer, we are leading the way ourselves by setting up a public charging network in Europe at our service locations together with E.ON. But that alone is not enough. That's why we are very grateful for fresh ideas and joint projects such as the one with FC Bayern. The charging park at the Allianz Arena will be a flagship project. From Bavaria for Bavaria and the world. It will shine far beyond the state's borders,’ explains Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus.   

According to estimates by the European manufacturers' association ACEA, around 50,000 high-performance and megawatt charging points will be needed along the most important long-distance transport routes across Europe by 2030. One of these is being built at the Allianz Arena. In future, electric lorries and buses will be able to charge their batteries here. The vehicles are now ready for the market. There are already 2,000 order enquiries and orders for the new e-truck from MAN. MAN was the market leader for electric city buses in Europe in 2023. In 2025, the first e-coach is to go into test operation and be handed over to FC Bayern as a long-standing partner in the 2025/26 season.   

Maximum flexibility with MCS and CCS charging  

From the start of sales in October 2023, the new MAN eTruck will offer a daily range of 600 to 800 kilometres. And future-proof charging technology is right on board: ‘With megawatt charging technology (MCS), our MAN eTruck with its battery of up to 534 kWh can cover a range of 300 to 400 kilometres during the driver's break from driving. This corresponds to charging 10 to 80 per cent of the existing battery capacity,’ explained Dr Frederik Zohm, Chief Development Officer at MAN Truck & Bus, during the official launch of the commercial vehicle charging park at the Allianz Arena. The new MAN eTruck can also be equipped with CCS charging, for example for overnight charging at depots. For greater flexibility, the CCS connection can be positioned on the right or left side of the vehicle, or on the right at the rear of the vehicle in the case of chassis. If the MCS connection, which is always positioned on the driver's side, is omitted, a combination of two CCS connections is also possible. 

“With this new order, the Hansea fleet will grow to over 270 MAN eBuses, making it the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Belgium,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: ”We are incredibly proud that Hansea has once again opted for our eBus. The order clearly shows how satisfied Hansea is with our Lion's City E and that it is proving its worth day after day.”

The vehicles will be delivered this year and next. “Sustainability is a key issue for us as well as for MAN. The order is definitely a milestone that confirms our joint commitment to sustainability,” says Joris Larosse, CEO from Hansea. He continues: “Our goal is to fully electrify our entire bus fleet by 2035. We have relied on MAN to convert our fleet right from the start. Over the last ten years, we have developed a trusted partnership based on intense professional cooperation.”

Maximum flexibility: Hansea orders 10-, 12- and 18-meter buses

In addition to the environmental friendliness of the city buses, reliability and flexibility also played a decisive role for the Belgian company. This is why Hansea has ordered the MAN Lion's City E in the 12-metre solo version as well as in the compact 10-metre version, which scores particularly well in narrow city centers thanks to its outstanding manoeuvrability. MAN is also supplying battery-electric 18-meter articulated buses, which show their strengths on routes with particularly high passenger volumes. Thanks to the different variants, Hansea can use the new bus fleet for a wide range of applications throughout Flanders. This is extremely important for the company, as it operates local and long-distance bus routes as part of a contract with the public transport companies De Lijn and TEC. Hansea also offers school buses, employee transportation and coach services.

To ensure that drivers and passengers arrive relaxed at all times, Hansea attached great importance to extensive comfort and safety equipment. MAN OptiView, for example, makes turning easier for the bus driver, especially in heavy city traffic. This is because the mirror replacement system makes the blind spot visible and thus ensures greater safety on the road, particularly when turning, but also when changing lanes and maneuvering. The equipment also includes a reversing camera, LED headlights, electric sun protection, a light/rain sensor and a comfortable driver's seat. Passengers are also seated in comfortable seats with high-quality seat covers and USB ports.

Pioneer from the beginning: first eBus in operation in Belgium in 2021

Another decisive factor for the new order was the many years of good cooperation with the Belgian bus division of MAN Truck & Bus as well as the delivery capability and the strong MAN service network, which Hansea can always rely on - just as it has been able to rely on MAN's eBuses for many years. In 2021, the first MAN Lion's City E was already making its rounds in Belgium on Antwerp line 36. Hansea tested the electric bus, which was part of the MAN Truck & Bus eBus demo fleet, for a year. The successful test deployment formed the basis for the follow-up orders for initially 90 and now a further 181 eBuses from MAN.

“This is a real success story that we are extremely proud of. After all, it also played a key role in our becoming the market leader for eBuses in Europe last year and the production figures for the Lion's City E are steadily increasing,” explains Oktay. However, MAN is not “only” the market leader in the overall European market, but also number 1 in a number of national eBus markets - including Belgium.

It's a frightening scenario: the driver of a bus suddenly passes out and loses control of the vehicle. "It happens again and again that the driver is suddenly unable to act due to unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies. The consequences can be devastating," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. "Experience shows that it is not uncommon for buses and coaches to leave the road or collide with other road users in such cases."

For this reason, the experts at MAN Truck & Bus have been working intensively on a new assistance system: the smart MAN SafeStop Assist, which is now available as an option for the MAN Lion's Intercity, the MAN Lion's Coach, the NEOPLAN Tourliner and the NEOPLAN Skyliner. "No other manufacturer offers such a system for all current coach models. However, this is not the reason why it is one of the most important innovations of the 2024 model year, but rather because it can prevent serious accidents," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

The basis for this is that the active intervention system recognizes when the driver is no longer able to act. For this purpose, the assistance system uses the driving activity recognition of an active lane guard system as well as the functionality of the adaptive cruise control (ACC Stop & Go). With the help of a sensor integrated in the front of the vehicle and a camera positioned behind the windscreen, the system also continuously monitors lane keeping as well as the distance, position and relative speed of objects ahead. "All the data collected is bundled and evaluated. In this way, SafeStop Assist can deduce the status of driver activity - and thus also possible inactivity," explains Kiess, adding: "Thanks to the intelligent interaction of various highly developed systems such as the attention guard, lane guard and emergency brake assistants, we have been able to increase safety for drivers, passengers and other road users enormously."

If the system detects that the driver is no longer active, it intervenes in the driving process in a three-stage warning and braking cascade. In the first stage, the driver is prompted to take over the steering by means of a warning symbol and text messages on the display as well as a slight vibration of the steering wheel. If the driver fails to do so, an acoustic warning is added to the visual and haptic warning messages. The assistance system also carries out increasingly heavy partial braking. If the driver does not react either, MAN SafeStop Assist initiates an emergency stop and brakes the bus to a standstill within the system limits in its own lane - even if it is winding. "Of course, the driver can take back control at any time if possible. An emergency stop initiated by the system can be aborted immediately with a kick-down," says Kiess.

However, if the emergency stop is not canceled, the system automatically activates the hazard warning lights to warn following road users. Immediately after the vehicle has come to a standstill, MAN SafeStop Assist also ensures that the bus cannot roll away. To do this, it switches to neutral transmission mode and automatically engages the electronic parking brake. It also unlocks the doors and switches on the interior lighting so that assistance can be provided without complications in an emergency. "MAN SafeStop Assist increases safety when driving a bus and helps to prevent serious accidents. At the same time, it also enables faster first aid treatment for the driver in the event of a medical emergency - and can therefore be a lifesaver," summarizes Kiess.

E.ON and MAN Truck & Bus are jointly taking a decisive step forward in the expansion of the charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles in Germany and Europe. As part of their new cooperation, the energy company and the commercial vehicle manufacturer will set up around 170 locations with around 400 stations for public charging of electric trucks across Europe. E.ON and MAN are investing in the new charging stations, which will be built along the existing MAN service network and will also be able to charge commercial vehicles from other manufacturers. Around 125 sites are planned in Germany alone. This will create the largest nationwide public charging network for heavy commercial vehicles in the country to date. Additional sites are being built in Austria, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

“Europe has set itself the goal of reducing emissions from heavy commercial vehicles by 90 percent by 2040. Electric mobility is a central key to achieving this goal,” said Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of E.ON. “We are investing heavily to give the infrastructure for electric heavy goods transport a decisive boost and to set the course for sustainable logistics and green supply chains. Nearly all major manufacturers are now focusing their development efforts on electric mobility. For the final breakthrough, we need a high-performance charging infrastructure that is designed on a European scale. We are delighted to be leading the way together with MAN.”

Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, adds: “For the mobility transition to be successful, we need around 50,000 charging points for heavy commercial vehicles in Europe by 2030. As a manufacturer of electric trucks, we are of course making our contribution to this. I am delighted that E.ON is now a strong partner for the electrification of our service locations. We are thus laying another foundation stone for a public charging network. However, we still urgently need the support of policymakers to build this network on a large scale.”

The new sites will be located at strategically selected MAN service bases, primarily in industrial areas with high truck volumes or near motorways. This means that public charging can be easily integrated into daily operations. The layout of the sites is specially designed for charging electric commercial vehicles: This includes a drive-through facility through the charging station so that trucks and buses do not have to maneuver. Wherever possible, the stations are installed in separate areas from the MAN service operations - with separate entrances and exits for the charging area - to ensure that they are accessible to the public, regardless of the make of vehicle. During the day, drivers also benefit from the existing infrastructure, such as sanitary facilities and recreation rooms.

The sites will be built in a modular fashion. As a first step, each site will be equipped with several 400 kW charging stations. This will allow an average electric truck to recharge for a range of up to 300 kilometers in about 45 minutes. Later, the sites will be upgraded to the MCS megawatt charging system.

Cross-industry commitment to speed up the expansion of truck charging infrastructure

The first 80 sites of the new charging network are to be built by the end of 2025 Sukhjinder Singh, CEO of E.ON subsidiary E.ON Drive Infrastructure: “The partnership with MAN Truck & Bus is a key milestone on the road to a sustainable future for heavy-duty transport. By combining MAN's extensive service network with E.ON's expertise in charging infrastructure, we are setting a new standard for electromobility in the commercial vehicle sector.”

Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales and Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus SE: “With our new eTruck, we are launching series production this year of a vehicle that is suitable for almost all applications. The response has been very positive. However, the right charging infrastructure will ultimately decide whether our customers actually switch from diesel to electric drive. I am therefore delighted that we are now tackling the electrification of our service network together with E.ON.”

The political goals for decarbonizing transport in Germany and Europe are clear: the German government wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy goods traffic in Germany by 55% by 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2045. The EU recently agreed to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 compared to 2019 levels. Against this backdrop, the industry is investing heavily in vehicles and infrastructure.

The electrification of MAN's product portfolio is gathering pace. The first production-ready electric truck with a daily range of up to 800 kilometers is in the starting blocks for 2024. The range of the electric city bus will be extended by a product update next year. MAN also plans to put its first test fleet of electric coaches on the road in 2025. Meanwhile, as a full-service provider for electromobility and charging solutions, E.ON already offers access to a comprehensive network of more than 500,000 car charging points across Europe. Companies and municipalities also benefit from customized charging infrastructure and electrification strategies for their fleets. E.ON also contributes its expertise in financing, site analysis and grid connection. Grid expansion and digitalization are not only essential for the future supply of renewable energy, but also for an efficient charging infrastructure.

About E.ON

E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company headquartered in Essen, Germany, which focuses on energy networks, customer solutions and energy sales. As one of Europe's largest energy companies, E.ON plays a leading role in shaping a sustainable, digital, decentralized world of energy. To this end, around 75,000 employees develop and sell products and solutions for private, commercial and industrial customers. More than 47 million customers purchase electricity, gas, digital products or solutions for electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate protection from E.ON. For more information, please visit www.eon.com.

E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI) is a pan-European charging station operator belonging to the E.ON Group that combines network development, construction and operation of public charging infrastructure for electric cars and commercial vehicles. EDRI draws on decades of energy expertise. The E.ON Group's portfolio also includes solutions to support private customers, companies and fleet operators in the transition to electric mobility. E.ON has set itself the goal of becoming one of the leading operators of charging infrastructure in Europe by 2030.

About MAN Truck & Bus

MAN Truck & Bus is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles and providers of transport solutions with annual sales of around 14.8 billion euros (2023). Its product portfolio includes vans, trucks, buses, diesel and gas engines as well as services for passenger and freight transport. MAN sees electric drives for commercial vehicles as a decisive factor on the way to locally emission-free, climate-friendly mobility. MAN Truck & Bus is a member of the TRATON GROUP and employs approximately 33,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.man.eu.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group Management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to align them to future events or developments.

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. Model year 2024: MAN and NEOPLAN buses now even more comfortable, safe and efficient (short version)
2. Model year 2024: MAN and NEOPLAN buses now even more comfortable, safe and efficient (long version)
3. MAN DigitalServices: smart digital solutions for greater efficiency and sustainability in the bus business
     

RB Leipzig is driving MAN - and will continue to do so until at least 2027. The partnership was extended last year and has now been expanded to include a new MAN addition to the Red Bulls' fleet. Andreas Witzel, Director Sales Region North-East at MAN Truck and Bus Germany, symbolically handed over the keys to a new team bus - a MAN Lion's Coach L - to Matthias Reichwald, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at RB Leipzig, during the home match finale of the season with the last two home games for the RBL women and men. The new vehicle will take on a variety of tasks at the club in future. Among other things, it will be used as the team bus for RB Leipzig's Bundesliga women's team. 

"We are delighted to be able to announce this reinforcement at the end of the season. The best conditions on and off the pitch are extremely important for continuous top performance. In this respect, it is great that we have such a reliable and strong partner in MAN and that we are continuing our successful collaboration," says Matthias Reichwald, Chief Commercial Officer at RB Leipzig. 

A statement that Darko Simeunovic, Head of Bus Sales at MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland GmbH, emphasises: "We are delighted that we are further expanding our partnership with RB Leipzig. Now even more teams from our partner club can reach their destinations safely and comfortably - and definitely until 2027, because last year we extended our partnership, which has been in place since 2020, for another four years." 

MAN Lion's Coach L customised to the club's requirements 

RB Leipzig is also relying on an award-winning, successful model with its second team bus from MAN. The MAN Lion's Coach L is powered by an efficient 480 hp (353 kW) 6-cylinder diesel engine D2676 LOH with Euro 6. The MAN TipMatic Coach 12-speed automated manual gearbox with integrated retarder promises a particularly smooth ride. The modern coach is also equipped with numerous assistance systems. It is important to RB Leipzig that the Red Bulls' teams travel as comfortably and safely as possible. The new coach fulfils these requirements perfectly. The customised interior design and spacious interior ensure that passengers travel in comfort and relaxation, even on longer journeys. 

"This aspect cannot be emphasised enough. Especially at away games, top athletes use the time in the bus before and after the game to regenerate so that they can go full throttle on the pitch," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. 

Players, coaches, carers and guests are seated in 36 comfortable passenger seats with adjustable footrests and backrests. Twelve of them also have electrically adjustable leg rests. Three electrically adjustable Vis-à-Vis tables are available for meetings. The almost 14 metre long MAN Lion's Coach L is also equipped with a comfort kitchen, a refrigerator, a comprehensive multimedia system, many additional shelves and storage cupboards.  

MAN Truck & Bus has been involved in sport for many years. "Many clubs now rely on team buses from MAN. The activities surrounding the games generate enthusiasm and at the same time emotionally charge our products, which helps with their positioning," summarises Kiess.   

MAN Truck & Bus and FC Bayern Munich have extended their long-standing partnership for a further three years until 2027. This has been in place since 2008, making it the longest cooperation between MAN and a football club. "FC Bayern is a brand with international appeal, but it also has strong roots in the region. This also applies to MAN. We are looking forward to continuing our long-standing partnership, which was agreed a long time ago and in which we will place the topics of sustainability and future technologies in the commercial vehicle industry even more strongly at the centre of our joint appearances in the future," says Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus.

"We are delighted to be continuing our great journey with MAN. FC Bayern is characterised by continuity, and partnerships like this show how important it is to find common paths and cover distances together," says Andreas Jung, Chief Marketing Officer of FC Bayern, adding: "That's what connects us, that's what characterises strong relationships."

With numerous trophies, FC Bayern is one of the absolute top clubs both nationally and internationally. Since the beginning of the partnership with MAN, the club has won numerous championships in the German football league as well as important successes in national and international cup competitions. MAN Truck & Bus is also internationally successful, as confirmed by numerous awards. For example, the MAN team bus of FC Bayern was voted "Coach of the Year" by a jury of European experts. In addition, the MAN TGX as "International Truck of the Year" has also been travelling from success to success like the club for years.

Michael Diederich, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of FC Bayern: "The partnership with MAN and FC Bayern stands for reliability due to the longstanding cooperation. It is also important to us that it also includes FC Bayern Women. Together we want to continue on the road to success. MAN is an ideal trailblazer and companion."

Arrive relaxed: FC Bayern footballers drive MAN Lion's Coach

As part of the partnership, FC Bayern will continue to ensure that the Munich club's top athletes arrive at their matches relaxed and safe. The players will take their seats in an exclusive MAN Lion's Coach, which impresses with its technical details as well as its unmistakable design and extensive special equipment. In order to provide players and coaches with the best possible support and offer them maximum comfort, economy and safety, the current team coach is to be replaced by a new, even more modern and environmentally friendly model over the course of the partnership. In addition to the bus, other teams at the club use MAN vans, which have been increasingly customised to the needs of the individual departments over the course of the partnership.

Future technologies and sustainability at the centre of the partnership

MAN Truck & Bus has been involved in sport for many years. "Many clubs now rely on team buses from MAN. The activities surrounding FC Bayern's matches in the Allianz Arena regularly generate enthusiasm among our customers and at the same time emotionally charge our products, which helps with their positioning," says Marc Langendorf, Head of Marketing & Communications at MAN Truck & Bus. MAN's aim is to increasingly focus on the topic of sustainable mobility with the help of various sponsorship campaigns.

MAN Truck & Bus will also continue to be involved as an official partner of the FC Bayern women's team. The partnership has been in place since 2022. "The topics of diversity and recruiting in the field of future technologies are important to us as a company in this context, which is why we want to continue to promote them," says Langendorf, adding: "Pulling together with FC Bayern, growing closer together and thus being able to make a difference is what drives us."